By Jadzia “Jazzy” Duarte
Dear USF St. Petersburg Family,
I hope all of you are getting adjusted to your classes and back to the ol’ school routine quaintly. For our new bulls by the bay, welcome home! We hope that your first year here on campus is everything you’ve expected and more.
Hannah Rose Wanless and I — and the entire Student Government team — have been diligently working this past summer to guarantee your success this upcoming semester! We have also been discussing strategies to ensure that the promises we made while running for office are fulfilled during our term.
I’ll tell you a little bit about myself. I’m a senior studying environmental science and policy from Orlando. I hope to one day be working alongside the United Nations in the Environmental sector, but for now I want to get involved locally and see how I can make some changes in my hometown!
I have a strong love and passion for travel and enjoy seeing all parts of the world. I’ve been to five continents so far and have my next continent planned to visit by the end of this year! I hope to do some service with the Peace Corps in regards to sustainability so I can still travel the world but continue to fuel my love for the environment.
I joined Student Government my first semester on campus. I loved the idea of being able to have such a valuable impact on the students’ lives and wanted to be sure administration heard the students. I became very involved in other organizations and got to see what first-years, transfers, first-generations, commuters and so many more students needed.
Through my experience with various organizations and being a part of Student Government, I recognize our wonderful faculty, staff, and administration’s efforts confirming the success of USF St. Petersburg students. When the opportunity to run for office arose, the excitement of continuing my service leadership through this role was out of this world!
Student Government’s mission is to be an advocate and enhance the student experience for all at USF St. Petersburg. This year is about you. As the student body president, I want to make certain that all students attending USF St. Petersburg are heard loud and clear. Our student body is so diverse and so unique so we want to be as inclusive as possible when creating things for the students!
I encourage you to come and get involved!
Become a deputy under one of our directors in the executive branch by reaching out to the respective director, and they can give you some more guidance. Campaign to be a senator in the legislative branch by applying when midterm or general election packets come out! You can also take a stab at being a judicial aide in the judicial branch by reaching out to our chief justice about getting involved.
There are so many opportunities for you to get involved and make change on campus. It just starts with one person.
We hope all of you are ready to take the fall semester by the horns! Good luck and know that Student Government is always around to help! Just stop by SLC 1500, keep an eye out for our weekly newsletters, or check out our website: usfsp.edu/sg.
As always, Go Bulls!
-Jadzia “Jazzy Duarte”
She/Her/Hers
University of South Florida St. Petersburg Student Government
Student Body President
