As someone who loves color, decoration, and organization, junior health sciences and fine arts major Bethanee Tabura spent most of her childhood dreaming in advance of her graduations, school banquets, and class trips. When the opportunity to run for student association social vice president came, she knew she had to run because of what she loves to do. 

“It’s been one of the biggest and scariest things I’ve ever done in my life–other than convincing myself to actually leave home and go to college– but extremely rewarding in every way possible, and I have no regrets.” shared Bethanee. 

Which of your roles do you find the most important as Social VP?

It’s fairly difficult to assign one role as the most important because there’s so much involved in any of these offices. I would have to say that managing it all would be the most difficult and important part. Balancing your personal life, personal studies, student leadership, student advocacy, event coordination, and event relevancy and how it affects you, the students you’re serving, and the staff you work for/with can be a lot. However, finding that balance is essential to serving your student body well while maintaining respect for yourself, your efforts, and those involved in your workplace.

What do you hope to accomplish with the SA team and students?

I hope to be a part of the upward trend towards increased student involvement. It’s so incredible what a group of people can accomplish when they are invested in something. With this last year’s SA team, I witnessed numerous incredible things. I hope to be a part of that

continued investment in each other and a school we’ve learned to love so dearly. This is an effort that takes many hands, however, so I also hope to be better at inviting others to help so that everyone who would like to can enjoy the privilege of serving a fellow student!

What are you looking forward to in being a part of SA?

To be sadly vague but true, I think I am looking forward mostly to being directly involved in change on campus yet again. Currently, this new SA team is already tackling tasks with the completion of the sound renovation in Dauphinee Chapel. This has been such an integral space for a handful of the student’s spiritual walk, and seeing a reflected investment in that space by both SA and administration is truly inspiring. Having the ability to have such an impact on the campus and facilities helps me as a student to be proud of my school and adds to my respect as a student leader for the institution.

How can the PUC community support your team?

Just try! I know everyone says this, and I apologize for using this as yet another excuse for something mildly unrelated, but since the COVID spell swept our world, the way we run just about anything has changed dramatically. Student involvement looks different, and student leadership simply is not what it was before. 

However, the best way to address something new is to just try it. Even though an event might be new and different, try coming out. Even though being a student senator might sound interesting and a little boring at the same time, try it. Even though running for office is intimidating, your impact might end up being the best thing PUC has seen in a while, so try it. And even though you may think your help isn’t needed, try and ask. Your efforts are all you can give and are 100 times more appreciated than you may think!

Can you share any events that will be happening in the fall quarter?

As the resident party planner on SA, this is my favorite question. Another Lake Day is already in the making. This time, we aim to have it on the Sunday after the first week of classes so that students will have less of a struggle battling big studies for exams. For those who did not attend last year, Lake Day consists of wakeboarding, wake surfing, and tubing on boats, along with kayaking, paddleboarding, and, of course, just floating on the lake and hanging out on shore with friends. This is completely free to all our students. All you have to do is show up! 

We are still planning another annual Costume Bowling event where the students bring out their festive costumes and attempt to bowl in their stiff, sparkly, tight, or inflatable costumes. That and much more is to look forward to this upcoming year!

How can students have their voices and concerns heard by the student leaders?

Just reach out! We do our best to make ourselves as accessible as possible without going from student to student at lunch. However, with every tedious class, unpaid student finance bill, a pile of unfolded laundry, and noisy suitemate you have to manage as a college student, we understand it could get a bit confusing at times. 

The most immediate and accessible forms of communication are either through our Instagram account (@puc.sa) or by emailing any of us officers directly. If you type any of our names into Outlook, our email will pop up! 

We meet weekly and bring any concerns we’ve heard to the table, but we are unable to discuss your concerns if we are not made aware. If you are passionate about implementing specific changes on campus, specifically ones that require financial support, I would heavily consider running for Student Senate. However, never are our ears closed to your immediate concerns–we SA officers and your RAs are here to support you in whatever capacity we can, so come talk to us!

Why did you choose to attend PUC?

I did technically have a choice, as any high school graduate would, but it was the obvious choice for my pursuits and needs. Coming from a line of PUC graduates, seeking a school with a strong Visual Arts department and well-equipped Pre-Professional programs for Allied Health, PUC was the glove that simply fit best. Through a few blessings and other financial aid assistants, PUC was less of a possibility and more of an inevitability.

What are your favorite things about PUC?

If you haven’t already, you will hear this a lot, but that’s only because it’s true: my favorite part of PUC is the people. Being raised in small communities and academies, I am well aware of the power of small communities. PUC has a beautiful, diverse, close-knit, dedicated, unique, and real crowd of individuals that you can’t quite find anywhere else. This includes the students, staff, faculty, church, and community. 

Other than that–while Target, Walmart, or any sizable town is a whopping 40 minutes away–you are enveloped in gorgeous scenes that most people only get to see on vacation, so soak it in while you can! From the many trails on the backside of our mountain to the rising hot air balloons over Napa Valley every morning to some of my favorite coastal bluffs in California just down the road, there is just so much to absorb when you are not feverishly studying.