VICE PRESIDENT BRINGS FOCUS, DESIRE TO ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTS

Chelsea Allison was elected last month as Associated Student Government (ASG) Vice President for the 2019-20 school year.

The Advocate recently covered some of Allison’s goals and ambitions in her new position. Many Mt. Hood students have had the opportunity to meet her and figure out who she is as a person, but for those who haven’t, here’s a further introduction.

Allison spent years living in Hawaii, but was born and raised in Gresham. She is not only an MHCC student, but is also a wife and a mother. She enjoys hiking, going to the gym, playing with her dogs, and most importantly, spending time with her family.

Married for seven years, Allison has a 6-year-old son, Grayson. She said, “Without my son, I don’t think I would have ever been motivated enough to do all the things I’m doing. He is definitely my inspiration for everything.”

One of her biggest passions is advocating for students and helping her community, driven by the struggles she had in life, she said. By sharing her stories and what she has learned, she hopes students understand that they are not alone, there is help, and things can get better. 

Another strong reason why she advocates for students is because she has a son watching what she does, and wants him to learn the same values. “I want my son to know how to stand up for others,” she said.

Allison’s biggest support system has been her family. Her husband constantly motivates her to follow her dreams. She has explained her new position, and the responsibilities it comes with, to her son, and his reaction is as sweet and innocent as it can get.

“I’ve told him that just as I care and look out for him, I am now going to do the same for the students at MHCC,” she explained. Grayson is excited for the new chapter in his mother’s life, she said.

Just as other parents might experience, sometimes the fear of being a bad parent can take over Allisons’ thoughts. She has had moments where she questions her quality as a parent, “but then I see him doing so great and doing the things he loves and it makes me think that maybe I am doing something right,” she said.

Many mothers, and people in general, have been victims of negative criticism. When Allison is on the receiving end, she said, “I can take the negative comments said about me as feedback and build myself, or I can learn to let it go.”

Having a child has made Allison want a better future for her son. “I really want him to learn that we are put on this Earth for good and we should use anything we have to better the lives of those around us. In the end, we aren’t going to be able to take money or materials with us, but we can leave a legacy of all the good things we have done.”

A busy schedule like Allison’s might have readers wondering, “How does she do it?” With all the tasks she carries on a daily basis, she has learned how to balance everything correctly, she explained.

“I know how to prioritize and work my schedule efficiently to where I can fully dedicate myself to all aspects of my life,” Allison said. In fact, she is a 4.0 GPA student and is currently applying to get into the dental hygiene program here at MHCC. She eventually hopes to teach dental care and volunteer around the world providing dental care services, she said.