Leadership, Pageants, and Paying It Forward with Jada O’connor

In this episode of Beach Peeps, CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen sits down with Jada O’connor, a fourth-year accounting student whose journey at The Beach is defined by confidence, community, and purpose.

Jada shares how her role in outreach and school relations allows her to help prospective students see themselves at CSULB and successfully navigate the transition to college. Through her involvement on campus, including leadership in the Black Business Students Association and participation in mentorship programs, she has built a strong foundation rooted in connection and giving back.

The conversation also dives into Jada’s unexpected journey into pageantry, where she recently earned the title of Miss Southern California. What began as a spontaneous decision quickly became a transformative experience, allowing her to share her story, highlight her passions, and redefine what leadership and representation can look like.

Jada reflects on the importance of authenticity, reminding students that it’s okay to stumble, take risks, and try something new. Whether it’s pursuing opportunities, finding resources, or stepping outside your comfort zone, she emphasizes that students already have access to the tools they need to succeed.

Her story is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t about perfection; it’s about purpose, impact, and lifting others up along the way.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

I went to Goodwill months before. Yes. You got your dress at Goodwill. Yeah. Oh my God, I'm so happy.

SPEAKER_01 0:05

That gives me joy in my heart. Even with like business casual where I know we have that issue in college of business where students feel like I don't have anything to wear to this interview. What do I do? Um but go to Goodwill. Yep. We have Cobb Closet. We have all types of resources. So as a student, you have the world in your hands.

SPEAKER_03 0:25

I'm Beth Lesson, Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment at Cal State Long Beach. And this is Beach Peeps, a podcast about students, stories, and the interesting things happening on campus and beyond. Hi Jada. Hi, Path. How is it?

SPEAKER_01 0:42

How are you doing?

SPEAKER_03 0:43

Good. How are you? I'm doing fantastic. Okay, so I read up on you. Oh, so I know some things, but there are gonna be a bunch of people. I did. Okay. Why did you say it like that? There's so much to know about you. It's so ominous, like I read about you. It's so good. It's so good. Okay. I love that I can read up about you.

SPEAKER_01 1:01

So what did you find out?

SPEAKER_03 1:02

Well, no, I'm but there are gonna be people who don't know anything about you who didn't read up about you. So tell us a couple things about you.

SPEAKER_01 1:08

Uh where do I start? Okay, well, my name is Jada. I'm a fourth year accounting student here at Long Beach. Um, so I work on campus underneath Lizbeth Cerna.

SPEAKER_03 1:17

For out in outreach.

SPEAKER_01 1:19

Yeah. Yeah. So I work in Brutman Hall 289 for outreach and school relations. And the main part of my job is making sure that students at community colleges understand that Long Beach is the place for them and help them to smoothly transition and understand everything they need to know about Long Beach.

SPEAKER_03 1:35

And you were written up. I read about you. You were written up um on a in a newsletter on campus recently. And there's a fun fact about you outside of outside of campus.

SPEAKER_01 1:47

Yes, which is Okay, so I won um Miss Southern California. You did! You're Miss Southern California! I know, it's so exciting. Um so the pageant itself is hosted by Justin Rudd. He's like amazing. I don't know if you read about him or heard that. No, you have to tell me who that is. He's like a Long Beach superhero. Oh, okay. Anything cool that's going on, Justin is likely behind it.

SPEAKER_03 2:09

Is that the same? Is Justin the same person who did Rosie's Dog Beach? Yes. Oh, that Justin! He gets like every award in the city. Why do you why did he create a pageant though? I have no idea. But point is totally random. A dog beach and a pageant. And like he runs a community action team.

SPEAKER_01 2:27

Yes. And the pageant is right underneath that. Okay. And so by having all of these beauty queens who come and compete, which by the way, it was really fun. It didn't even feel like a competition. Um, you get to participate in the community and give back to Long Beach, which is why I think it's so fun to do.

SPEAKER_03 2:44

So I have a million questions. Okay. Whoa. How did you get involved with doing with was this your first pageant? Yes. Yes. So I actually And how long ago? Was it recent?

SPEAKER_01 2:55

Uh yeah. So it was back in November. Oh, like a minute ago. Yeah. Okay. Months ago. Yeah. Um, but I went, I'm in the ethical leadership course here on campus, the Euclea Center, right? Amazing. So through College of Business, we have like ethical leadership. So we have this course. It's hosted by Janie and Celeste. And they have us have guest speakers and they come out every other week on Wednesdays and they talk to us basically about what it is to be an ethical leader and why they have used their ethical core values to hear where they are today. So one of our speakers was Nancy Lulong. She's CSULB alumni. I know Nancy.

SPEAKER_03 3:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:36

Um, and she was actually Miss Southern California of 2023. I did not know that. Yes. So then she put that fun fact. And a week before, I had written on my calendar like run for Miss America as a like a joke, right? Why would that be a joke? Well, because I was like, oh, it's gonna take so many steps. Like, obviously, I'm not gonna get it like this year, but I'll write it down. Okay, so not a joke, but a long-term goal. Yeah. So I was like, I'm gonna run for Miss America, like la ha ha ha. I love that. And then I went to class per usual, and she's like, Yeah, I did a beauty pageant. And then And you thought sign from God. And I thought, the universe is trying to tell me something. Yes. And then as the weeks went on, um, so I talked to her after class and I was like, So tell me more about this pageant. Like, how can I get involved? Like, I've been thinking about doing it, and I just, I don't know, I guess this is my sign. She was like, Do it! You know how Nancy is. Do it, you have to do it. Yes, so she sent me the email, and then I just went on a whim and I went for fun. I was like, hey, let's do it. Like, why not? Um, so then I went to the pageant. Everyone was super nice, and Justin, he's amazing. He is. Um, and then I won. And I was like, And then I won. Yada yada yada, and then I won. But I was so surprised, and Nancy ended up coming to the pageant, and she was like, Oh my god, I love that. Um, but that was that was my original inspiration for doing the pageant in the first place.

SPEAKER_03 4:59

So, first I want to ask you about the pageant, but then remind me if I forget, I want to circle back to the ethical leadership course because I'm interested in that too. Um regarding the what you said it was super fun and it didn't even feel like a competition. What is it like to be in a beauty pageant? What was that like for you?

SPEAKER_01 5:20

I think it's very uplifting in a weird way. Because usually you think of beauty pageants and you think like, oh, they're just looking at you for your looks. But I think with Justin's pageant specifically, it was more so about like your character and who you are as a person um and what you contribute to your community. And so funny enough, when I was backstage, I was like, oh Nancy, I'm not gonna win. Like I told Nancy I was like, Why did you think you weren't going to win? I'm not gonna win. Because I, as we were going on stage and doing doing our introduction introductions, I was like, wow, there's so many accomplished women next to me. I I literally can't win.

SPEAKER_02 5:57

You were just overwhelmed by how amazing everyone was.

SPEAKER_01 6:00

Everyone's doing nonprofits, everyone's doing this on the weekends, feeding the homeless, whatever the case may be, everyone's so amazing. So I was like, how am I gonna measure up to these amazing people? And then I guess, I guess somehow, some way I did.

SPEAKER_03 6:14

Yeah, well, it it's not surprising, right? Like there was a reason. So, what were some of the things that you had to do in the pageant?

SPEAKER_01 6:23

So when we first got there, we did like a dry run. You kind of go through what's gonna happen. So there's an interview, like a judging round. So you talk to the judges, you have about three, two to three minutes to talk to each judge, and they ask you questions about what you submitted on your online application. So they asked me about my hobbies, what I like to do, what I'm involved in. Um, and that was like the pre-pageant part. Then you practice, you do your run-throughs. Um, so we had three rounds on stage. Our first round, we went out, um, we did a walk. Yeah. And then you introduce yourself, what you're passionate about, um, what you want the people to know about you.

SPEAKER_03 7:02

What are you passionate about? What do you want people to know about you? I want to know all the answers to these questions.

SPEAKER_01 7:07

So when they asked me this question, I was like nervous.

SPEAKER_03 7:11

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 7:12

But I told them that I was passionate, and this is also true. But that's good. It's it's always good to tell the truth. I'm passionate about helping other people like me pursue higher education. Yes. Now, obviously, when I got on stage, that didn't come out as clear as it just did now. So I like stuttered. I was like, God, like, I'm not gonna do it. I ruined it. Like, I ruined it, I ruined it, all my chances are gone.

SPEAKER_03 7:35

But clearly not. So that's an important thing for people to understand that sometimes when we stumble, we think we ruined it. But really, what we just did, it sounds like you were people were impressed with your authenticity.

SPEAKER_01 7:46

Yeah. I think that kind of helped my case.

SPEAKER_03 7:48

Yeah, you weren't super practiced and polished, you were just being real.

SPEAKER_01 7:52

Yeah. So they asked me what I was passionate about, and I said, like I said, but like you come to college. Yeah. Yeah. And I think it shows in all of the things that I've even done in my college career. But like what?

SPEAKER_03 8:04

What have you done? Like what are what are the kinds of things that you're involved with?

SPEAKER_01 8:09

Okay, so firstly, I'm the treasurer for Black Business Students Association. Nice. So I make sure that all of financial things and all of our fundraisers get passed through and all of our money is somewhere. That's good because you're an accountant. Yeah. Yeah. That really works for you. Logical role. Um, other than that, I did participate in the German International Business Workshop. So that was fun. German International Business Workshop. Yeah. So we got to like connect with other people from across the world. And I think it also solidifies that like people across the world, we can be completely different but still come together at college and make a difference. I love that. And I feel like those types of programs and participation in like SCPD, like the CMP programs, they introduce you to all these people that continue to push you forward and say, this is why education is so important. And I wish that more people had those opportunities.

SPEAKER_03 9:06

And these are things on our campus. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:08

They're all on our campus. I didn't even know about that program. Yeah. They're all on our campus. So we have CMP with SCPD and we have JMP. That's a lot of letters. It's junior mentor program and corporate mentorship program. Okay. One is a semester long and one is a year long. And that's for business majors. Yes. People in business. Partner up with a mentor, and my my mentor is Larry Yee, but you partner up with a mentor and they guide you through the whole year. So it's amazing. Yeah. Some people get internships, some people get jobs, but the point is to connect you with a professional and help guide you along the way.

SPEAKER_03 9:39

Okay, so back to the pageant. So you said it didn't even feel like a competition. And then did was it like what you see on television? Were you like standing in a row on a stage and they were like, third runner-up, second runner-up, for did was that really what happened?

SPEAKER_01 9:54

So there was no runner-ups at all. And I tell people this often as well. Like, sometimes I'll do a fashion show here and there. Like I've done campus couture on campus as well. And the difference between doing a pageant and just being a model is that when you're when you're on stage and you're modeling clothing, nobody cares about you. They just they just care about the clothes. They care about the clothes. Interesting. Honed in on what you're wearing and is it valuable to them? Interesting. But when you do a pageant, people care about what you have to say. And that was like different for me. Yes. So it was when I got on stage, I'm like, oh, I usually don't do this part. Like I just walked. Was it different good or different different good? Yeah, okay, good. Um, and I think that the people like that do the pageants and the pageant directors like Justin are really warm and welcoming, at least in my experience. Justin's amazing, but really warm and welcome. And it makes you feel like I want to tell people about what I do. Because I'm very like, I don't go around boasting like this is what I do, you know. But I think it's a good opportunity for you to tell people about what you're up to and get like basically get acknowledgement that you're doing good for other people.

SPEAKER_03 10:58

Yeah, because you know it's interesting that you use the word boasting. We have many of us have been raised to believe that talking about our accomplishments is unflattering, it is not an attractive quality. But also when you talk about your accomplishments, it brings a lot of visibility to the things that you're passionate about. So like it's it's a toss-up.

SPEAKER_01 11:20

How do I say that I'm doing this without bragging about it?

SPEAKER_03 11:23

Yeah, but also it's okay to brag a little. Yeah, it's okay to brag. It's okay to tell people as long as it's not, it's more about I think. It's as long as it's more about what you're accomplishing than about you. Um, if you know, people kind of roll their eyes when it's like me, me, me, always me. But when you're passionate about something and you're talking from you're speaking from the heart, I don't think people roll their eyes at that. I think people celebrate that. So I don't think that talking about your accomplishments, I think that talking about your accomplishments could be a really good thing. I don't think it's something to avoid.

SPEAKER_01 11:58

Yes. So that was really fun. And then with Justin, we get to do all of these different events. So once I, you know, you go on stage for the second round.

SPEAKER_03 12:08

Like for the pageant, or after you win, or both?

SPEAKER_01 12:11

Both. Okay. So after you win, obviously you come to the events, but even if you don't win, you can still come to the events because it's about community. It's less about like, you know, we're important. I love this thing.

SPEAKER_03 12:22

So and and do people like people come. Have people from the event all like stayed in touch and yes.

SPEAKER_01 12:28

So I will say some of the people that I competed with, not in my specific category, but they showed up to the events. They're about community. Like it was not at all like any beauty pageant I ever expected. Um, so we did our second round, which was mostly, if I remember correctly, just like an outfit. So you had your second outfit. Um, and I believe How'd you pick your outfit? What I walked out in to answer my onstage question was this gold dress. If you remember the Marilyn Monroe dress. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:02

The one, the white one with the half.

SPEAKER_01 13:04

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It looks like that, but it's gold. So I went to Goodwill. Actually, yes. I went to Goodwill months before.

SPEAKER_03 13:11

Yes. You got your dress at Goodwill. Yeah. Oh my god, I'm so happy. That gives me joy in my heart.

SPEAKER_01 13:17

So I went to Goodwill and I have this saying, and Zoe's gonna laugh if she ever watches this. Zoe, this is for you.

SPEAKER_03 13:22

If she's your friend, she's gonna watch this.

SPEAKER_01 13:25

She I told her on pageant day, because she's um she's Miss Longbeach for our category. And I told her, look, whenever you buy a dress, you you buy the dress because you like it and you find the occasion later. When you gotta wear it, it doesn't matter.

SPEAKER_03 13:40

I'm with you.

SPEAKER_01 13:41

And that was one of those dresses. And I was like, see, this is a perfect example.

SPEAKER_03 13:44

I love this dress and I will find where to wear it too.

SPEAKER_01 13:46

Yes. So I bought it and no one could see the vision. They're like, oh, I don't know. I was like, you guys don't get it. So I bought it, and then I no one could see the vision, but I saw the vision. I saw it. Um, and then I also thrifted my shoes, which usually I don't do because I'm like, oh, kind of gross. But uh, there were these gold shoes, and I was like, these are so cute. I didn't even think they would go together. And then Pagine D rolled around and I was like, oh, perfect. It's like the stars just aligned together.

SPEAKER_03 14:12

I love that you thrifted your dress and shoes for to win Miss Southern California. That's an awesome story. I I love fashion, but I don't like fast fashion. So and I also, and who likes to spend a lot of money? I don't.

SPEAKER_01 14:26

Nobody does. You're a student and I have a lot of money.

SPEAKER_03 14:28

Right. So I love that one of the reasons I love that is because it makes it more accessible. Like if there are other people who are interested in um being a part of a pageant like the way that you were, and they're intimidated by associated costs, you can thrift. Like it doesn't have to be an expensive venture at all. No, you can use things depending on the pageant, of course, but you can use things from your closet, you can thrift. You this is accessible, is what you're saying.

unknown 14:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:56

Even with like business casual where I know we have that issue in college of business where students feel like, I don't have anything to wear to this interview. What do I do? Yes. Um, but go to Goodwill.

SPEAKER_00 15:06

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 15:06

We have Cobb Closet, we have all types of resources. So as a student, you have the world in your hands. Yep.

SPEAKER_03 15:12

So Cobb Closet is the College of Business professional clothing closet. We also have clothing drives and clothing closets through basic needs in the career center.

SPEAKER_00 15:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:21

FYI, in case you didn't know that. Thank you. And there's always the end is also always for women, especially dressed for success. And of course, goodwill.

SPEAKER_01 15:31

Yeah. So I would say if you want to run for a pageant, do it and go to goodwill first.

SPEAKER_03 15:36

And go to goodwill first. And so did they have a talent category? No. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 15:42

That was what was unique. So specifically.

SPEAKER_03 15:45

So you didn't have to like whistle Dixie or spin plates to get this title.

SPEAKER_01 15:48

So that's why I was a little bit nervous. Like, what am I gonna, what's my talent gonna be? Just you being you. Uh yeah. So that was what was different. We just talked about what we were passionate about, and our onstage question was what we had written in our applications, like, tell the judge something you want to know.

SPEAKER_03 16:02

That was it.

unknown 16:03

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 16:03

Just tell the judge something you want to know.

SPEAKER_01 16:05

Um, and when you first like submit your application and then they pull from that, from those questions and they ask you more about what you submitted. Um, so they asked me about accountancy.

SPEAKER_03 16:15

Um what did you tell them? What do you want to know? I feel like now I'm making you do the whole pageant over again.

SPEAKER_01 16:23

I said, I got really nervous because I thought they were gonna ask me about my job. And they asked me. At outreach? Yeah. Oh, because that's what I'm passionate about. So I thought, oh, they're gonna ask me what I'm passionate about. And they asked me about accountancy. So I'm on stage and I'm like, accountancy, accountancy, what do I do? And then I told them, I essentially said, in about 10 words, Long Beach is great, go beach, everyone can do hard things. I love everything you just said.

SPEAKER_03 16:52

I love everything you said.

SPEAKER_01 16:54

And I walked off stage, and that was another moment where I was like, I just messed up again.

SPEAKER_03 16:59

Great. So messed up so well that you won the whole thing.

SPEAKER_01 17:04

I guess. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 17:05

I love that. Oddly enough. I love it.

SPEAKER_01 17:07

So I walk off stage and I'm like, oh, you know, it's fine. Like, I did it for fun. It was a fun experience. I met so many wonderful people, so it's fine. And so I thought that I had my idea of who all is gonna win, right? And so we're on stage, and I'm like, okay, just look happy, clap for everyone, don't be a sour sop about it. Like, this isn't the end of the world. And you did it for fun. You're prepping yourself to lose. So I'm like, don't worry about it. Like, it's not a big deal. And you didn't do this to win, you did it to just try it out, see what happens. So then I'm clapping, I'm clapping, and they're like, okay, and Miss Southern California is. And I'm like, okay, I think I know who it's gonna be. So I'm like clapping because they at this point they already announced Miss Long Beach. And so I'm like, oh, if I was gonna win anything, it's Miss Long Beach because I'm so involved at school. So I was like, okay, just clap and look happy. And then they said my name, and I was like, I'm clapping for me.

SPEAKER_03 17:59

You know, that's interesting because I'm thinking as you're talking, I'm remembering a time that I did an interview for a job and I left and I got upset because I thought that it went so terribly and I got the job offer. Yeah. I wonder how often, I wonder how often people think that they totally screwed up, like you thought on that stage, like I totally screwed this up. And in fact, you're about to win the entire thing. And is this your one-off or are you gonna keep doing this pageant thing? Are you are you hooked?

SPEAKER_01 18:30

I don't know. I'm kind of hooked. I kind of wonder.

SPEAKER_03 18:32

Because you had on your bucket list that you're gonna go for Miss America, so you've got some steps.

SPEAKER_01 18:37

So now that I've said it out loud, I kind of have to do it. I think you might have to do it. Have to do it. I think you might. Um, I think what I would go for next, I have to relook at the website, but I'd probably go for a bigger pageant.

SPEAKER_00 18:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:50

So I'd go for like, I don't know, some sort of state or like Miss California or something like that. Yeah, that would be my next step if I really wanted to do like, you know.

SPEAKER_03 18:58

You have to let us know if you're gonna do that.

SPEAKER_01 19:00

I'll email you first. Yes. You'll never believe this.

SPEAKER_03 19:03

Because then you're gonna have like a whole Long Beach state cheer squad, like a whole bunch of us under you being like, yes, do it. We'll we'll be like hashtag teamjada. Is that a thing?

SPEAKER_01 19:15

I don't know. Is that still a thing? Are we like old?

SPEAKER_03 19:18

We that hurts my soul. You are not old.

SPEAKER_01 19:26

I feel like no one I say hashtag all the time. I feel like no one is.

SPEAKER_03 19:29

I don't know if that's a thing anymore. We'll have to ask. You can find out and let me know.

SPEAKER_01 19:32

Yeah, but I I would say I'd go for Miss California, maybe. Yeah, I think that's next.

SPEAKER_03 19:36

I think I think you have to. I'm kind of obligated. I think you have to. I want to ask you one question about the ethical leadership course.

SPEAKER_02 19:43

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 19:45

What besides this whole pageant thing that it wound up like this was the spin-off, right? You wound up in the pageant because of the ethical leadership course.

SPEAKER_01 19:54

Like the side episode.

SPEAKER_03 19:55

Yes, exactly. But something about what how did you wind up taking the ethical leadership course and who is that for? Because now is a now more than ever, we need ethical leaders. And this is a thing that happens on our campus that a lot of people don't know anything about. And I it sounds like you had a pretty transformative experience. You wound up doing a whole thing that we talked about for almost a half an hour somehow through this ethical leadership course. So, how did you find out about it? How did you I said one question, but I'm a liar. How did you find out about it? How did you decide and wind up taking it? And what, besides the pageant thing, what do you what did you think of it? What do you think you got out of it?

SPEAKER_01 20:48

I originally found out about the ethical leadership course through Celeste all. So she's a business law professor here. She's a lecturer, is it a lecturer? No, I don't think it's a lecture. I think it's like a seminar. Um, but I took her business law 220 class. It's a required course, so we have to take as business students. And so I took business law and it was my favorite class. Really? Ever. Interesting. Well, firstly, because Celeste is just a fantastic professor. That usually does it. But um that's that's enough. The content itself is really interesting, and her class made me want to become a lawyer. So every week I'd go to her office hours or whenever I had time. And it'd be like picking her brain apart, um, asking questions about the class. I was just really involved in the class because I liked it. Um, and going to class was fun. I think that's the only class I've taken so far at Long Beach, besides my most recent semester. I love my classes. Um, that I felt like I'm excited to go to class. I cannot wait. I got an A and she reached out to me and a few other students who got an A, and she said, Hey, you guys do really well on my course, which is unusual. Not that people aren't capable, but typically people don't when you have to take a like a regular required class, people don't usually try because like it's not Major, I don't care. So she reached out and she's like, Hey, I think you'd be really interested in this um course. I think you the group of you would be perfect fit.

SPEAKER_03 22:08

So she referred you to the class. Is it just for business majors? Or can anyone do it?

SPEAKER_01 22:14

Anyone can do it to my understanding. A lot of us are business majors because it's ethical leadership. So I think business majors tend to lean towards leadership like management, those types of majors tend to lean towards those type of programs. So she recommended that. And originally I'm like, okay, let me look this course up. So I go on the website and it's like elusive.

SPEAKER_03 22:35

It's like Oh, so it's not transparent?

SPEAKER_01 22:38

No, it is transparent, but it's hard to describe a transformative experience on paper. I got it. So how can you say this class is gonna change your life?

SPEAKER_03 22:48

And do you feel like it did?

SPEAKER_01 22:49

It did. It really did.

SPEAKER_03 22:51

What about it changed your life? So I would say the it's how do you put a transformative experience on paper? It's a great question. So they they describe the experience to you pretty clearly.

SPEAKER_01 23:02

They say, hey, this is the course, they describe it out, but you read and you're like, okay, well, what does that mean?

SPEAKER_03 23:09

And then so they have an interview. You have to, it's kind of like you had to be there. You have to experience it to really get it.

SPEAKER_01 23:14

Yeah. So they had an interview for the course, not because that's required, but what is required, but not like, oh, it's selective, but more so like we need you to know what this class is about, and we need to give you a heads up of like what you're signing yourself up for. Is it very demanding? Um, yes and no. It is a year-long commitment. So time is very demanding. Um, but you meet bi-weekly and you meet off campus. Um, and then you meet with different business professionals and they tell you about their life and they tell you about why they're ethical leaders and what the core we have like a list on our syllabus of the core values of ethics. Um That sounds fascinating. Yeah. So our first ethics course was forgiveness. And wow. Yeah. So we had guest speakers come out and talk to us. So we went to Environ Architecture and they told us about, you know, their company, and then they had our guest speaker come out, and I believe his name is Jeff. He was a pastor and he came and talked to us, not necessarily about religion, really, but his story. Yeah. And life forgiveness is so like important and vital to his leadership and how he goes about his day.

SPEAKER_03 24:26

So that must have made it much more powerful to actually connect with people who are telling their story instead of just learning the material.

SPEAKER_01 24:33

Yes, I cried in our first class. Did you? I did. So, like the class is unlike any class I've ever taken in my life. You cried in the first class. I know, I know.

SPEAKER_03 24:42

No, that must it must have been very powerful.

SPEAKER_01 24:45

But um, it's unlike any other class because you can you bond with these people so well. Like, I feel like my classmates are like my friends. Um, but they're also just like an extension of me because you know, you're surrounding yourself with all these people who are interested in being ethical leaders. So that's amazing. Um, but the class is so transformative because you talk about topics and hard situations that you don't encounter when you're learning about theory. So when you're in your business classes, because I'm a business major, sorry, everyone. Um you kind of learn about the theory of what it's like to be an ethical leader, the theory of what it's like when you know your employees are not doing what they're supposed to, the theory of firing someone. What does that feel like? But then you talk to people who have lived these experiences. I got fired because of this. I worked under someone who was unethical. This happened to me. I went through this hard life obstacle. And you talk to all of these people who are either Long Beach alum, local to Long Beach, or they're just amazing, really. Um, so you talk to them and they tell you about these things, but I think forgiveness was the most impactful, not because I cried, but because I think forgiveness is really important when you're, you know, pursuing these corporate positions. It can be really hard to forgive people who do you wrong or forgive systems that have wronged you. So I think that was the most transformative um meeting, besides obviously the meeting where Nancy was there.

SPEAKER_03 26:11

Amazing. Amazing. I'm so glad I asked you that question. Um, I have one more question for you, and then I'm gonna wrap it up because you work in outreach and you are passionate about getting students like you to come to college, and you are an amazing ambassador for this institution. So, my question for you is what advice would you have for uh either you dealer's choice, either a brand new student at Cal State Long Beach or a student who is thinking about coming to Cal State Long Beach. Pick your poison.

SPEAKER_01 26:47

The million-dollar question.

SPEAKER_03 26:48

Yeah, what's your advice?

SPEAKER_01 26:50

I feel like work me is seeping out, and I just want everyone to come to Long Beach. So I'm gonna answer what would I tell someone who's thinking about coming to Long Beach? I would say Long Beach reminds me of being on vacation and then coming home and seeing your family. So you get back home and you're like, oh, I'm so sad that I have to leave this beautiful, wonderful country. And then you get home and your mom or whoever is there, and they're like, oh my god, welcome back. Like, we love you. That's what it feels like to be on a Long Beach campus, like on a daily basis. All of the staff, everyone is so supportive. And this is not just because I go here or because Beth is sitting right here. This is my Yeah, I can close my ears. I'm not listening. Um, but I feel like I've been so supported, and I think that's one of the things that a lot of students may struggle with is not feeling the support either at their community college or their high school. I experienced that. Um, so Long Beach is really supportive of your goals. If you tell them I want to do this, they're gonna help you make it happen. Um, so they're really about student success. So Long Beach is the place to be. It is. Like I said, when I won the pageant, go beach.

SPEAKER_03 28:01

Go beach. I don't think that I could end it on a better note.

SPEAKER_01 28:06

So my last parting message is I want to say to everyone, I would say, well, I'm about to say it, so I'm not gonna say I would say, but um, if you ever do a pageant, I think it's important, or you're in any sort of power position or doing anything, especially at Cal State Long Beach, it's important to remember why you're there and who you're doing it for. And know that in my case, when I'm wearing a crown, it's not about me and about oh my god, everyone's looking at me, but it's about how can I make this person feel like they have a crown on too. That is the best, that is the best feeling ever. Like little kids coming up to you and being like, you have a crown on too.

SPEAKER_03 28:47

Jada, we're so lucky to have you. Oh, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 28:49

I feel lucky to be here.

SPEAKER_03 28:51

Thank you so much for doing this and just for being you and being here, and for being such a beautiful representative of Southern California and Long Beach as Miss Southern California.