Colleges : Campus scene : HUNTINGTON BEACH : Golden West Student Chief Has Come Far

When she left Saigon six years ago at age 14, Van Tran was apprehensive about coming to America.

“I didn’t know what was going to happen to me,” she said. “I didn’t know whether I’d go to school. I didn’t know if I would ever understand the language.”

But Tran did go to school, she did learn English, and recently she was elected by her fellow 13,000 students at Golden West College as the president of their student government, the Associated Students.

“I was very honored,” Tran said. “I was honored that the students accepted me as part of them.”

As a campus leader, Tran said, she wants to continue to expand Golden West’s commitment to a diverse, multicultural student body.

In winning election to the one-year student government position, Tran is carrying on a family tradition of political and community involvement. Her uncle, Tony Lam, is a city councilman in Westminster, where Tran, her parents and three sisters live.

College faculty and staff members generally praised Tran and hailed her election.

“She is an excellent student, an outstanding leader, extremely personable, and I look forward to working with her,” said Valerie Venegas, director of student activities on the Huntington Beach campus. “It’s my hope that with Van’s leadership, more students, including Asian students, will seek out involvement on campus.”

Tran, who is majoring in architecture, said she hopes to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo after she completes her courses at the community college.

“It’s always been my dream to be an architect,” she said.