ASB Vice President Jesus Cruz lives by the powerful idea of “212,” which teaches that going one extra degree of effort can make all the difference. If he could give advice to his freshman self, it would be to embrace this concept early on. For Jesus, 212 is not just about pushing harder in schoolwork but about applying persistence and confidence to life’s toughest challenges. He believes that mistakes are part of the journey and wouldn’t change his past, since those lessons shaped who he is today.
After high school, Jesus plans to continue leading by example, either by joining the Navy or enrolling in an ROTC program at a UC. He draws inspiration from figures like David Goggins, whose discipline motivates him to keep going when tasks get difficult. To manage stress, he reminds himself to “fake it till you make it,” using confidence as a tool to push through pressure-filled moments like exams or big projects. His proudest achievement so far is graduating from leadership academy, an experience that taught him the true meaning of commitment and responsibility.
Outside of school, Jesus enjoys playing volleyball and spending time studying, but leadership is always at the core of who he is. He carries with him the lesson that to be a great leader, you must first be a great follower, a mindset he plans to take into the future. His favorite quote sums up his philosophy: “In life you must face the hard challenges instead of running away from them.” For Jesus, settling for mediocrity is never an option he believes success comes from embracing hardships and turning them into opportunities for growth.
