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Meet Karlinna Sanchez

Karlinna Sanchez TFAS

Karlinna Sanchez spent three summers at JSA Summer School. Currently a freshman at University of California Los Angeles, Sanchez is continuing her civic engagement on her university campus. She tells us how JSA has impacted her view of college and politics. Sanchez is a native of American Samoa and participated in JSA summer programs through a scholarship from the Department of Interior.

HAVE YOU SERVED AS A CHAPTER OFFICER? IF YES, IN WHAT ROLES?

I served as Chapter President for three years.

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT JSA?

I was introduced to JSA by Nuanua Iuli, an alumni.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO JOIN JSA/ATTEND JSA SUMMER SCHOOL?

I wanted to experience the colleges and I enjoy politics and debate.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A PART OF JSA?

The thing I enjoy the most, and definitely what I'll miss the most is the atmosphere that JSA provides. It's an atmosphere of something I can only describe as “giving a shiznik”. When constantly surrounded by apathetic people, JSA is a perfect balance. You get to meet people who care about what you care about and argue with people who care about the other side. It's a refreshing crescendo.

DESCRIBE YOUR MOST VIVID MEMORY OF A JSA DEBATE OR CONVENTION?

During a debate on the South China Sea dispute and the involvement the United States should take, we had a student from China in our debate house. So of course, when people argued for the US involvement, they painted China as the corrupt communist regime that exists in the perspective of US citizens. She then volunteered to subsequent and gave us a speech on how she thought her country was kind and gentle. She showed us how the United States would probably do the exact same thing. She won the debate. This is the stuff JSA is made of: perspectives that change minds and lives.

DESCRIBE YOUR FUTURE GOALS AND HOW JSA IS CONTRIBUTING TO ACHIEVING IT:

My future goal is to study law and bring that knowledge back home to help my community. While JSA is certainly helping to educate me and solidify this chosen profession, I choose JSA because it makes me happy. It makes me very, very happy.

Date

October 01, 2018