In 1789, George Washington became the first president. In 1929, Martin Luther King Jr. was born and left a mark on the world even after his death. To this day, there are many notable leaders that have affected the lives of millions. The connotation of aleader is very vague, but everyone seems to have an idea of the qualities of a good leader. It does not take any more than courage and confidence to become an honorable leader. In fact, everyone has the potential to become a leader.

The California Association of Student Councils (CASC) is a student-led, and stu­dent-run non-profit organization that has been dedicated to cultivating diverse and sensitive leaders from different backgrounds for over 65 years. This program works to improve the quality of life by developing skilled, ethical and sensitive leaders of diverse backgrounds and cultures. They work to provide the students with skills to confront contemporary issues in our world through an environment of peer training and networking. The student board member is the only mi­nority that has voting privileges and actively participates in process of making laws as a representative of 6.5 million students in Cali­fornia. CASC has established itself globally, for the commendable curriculum and workshops.

CASC holds many conferences throughout the year. At the region conference, students from different districts come together and participate in learning the CASC curriculum and being a part of the unforgettable experi­ence. Judy Zhou from Rowland High School testifies, “My first CASC Region Conference as a high school sophomore in 2012 was a life changing experience that provided me with the tools and skills tobe successful in my endeavors in clubs, projects, and most im­portantly, interacting with people. CASC pro­vided mewith an even more invaluable sense of acceptance, and pushed me to become a much more confident and sensitive member of any group.” CASC not only provides an amazing base for students in high school, but also teaches skills beyond the ones taught in high school. This program allows students to take back their own experience and is not one that can be described in words. CASC is surely an incredible program and everyone should be a part of it.