SAN MARCOS — After completing three years at Palomar College, Yaretzi Hernandez is ready to begin a new chapter — but not after crossing a few more goals off of her to-do list.
Hernandez first arrived at Palomar in fall of 2023, when she began her journey with the Associated Student Government (ASG). She officially became the ASG President in fall 2025, serving her last two semesters at Palomar.
ASG has been a beneficial experience for Hernandez. From making lasting friendships that will go far beyond Palomar to being the voice for students, her colleagues have stated how Hernandez is always up to the task.
A program where students work with each other, for each other, ASG creates space to share new ideas and listen with intention.
“It’s a lot of listening,” Hernandez said.
Along with listening, ASG attends Palomar’s governing board meetings, and its members have been known to speak up when decisions are not in line with what they believe are in the students’ best interest.
“I’ve attended all the governing board meetings, and I’ve done my best to advocate for students, their rights, what they want and what they believe in,” said Student Trustee Ariel Fridman, who works alongside Hernandez.
Hernandez and her team had a busy year with spearheading the grand opening of the Pride Center and numerous travel opportunities to Washington, D.C and Sacramento.
Out of the many projects Hernandez and her board have completed this year, the one the President remains most passionate and proud of is the reading of the land acknowledgment.
After the board voted to stop reading the land acknowledgement at governing board meetings in the spring of 2025, coming into the role as President, Hernandez wanted to adopt the recital of it during their own ASG meetings. Every week, they have someone on the board read it out loud.
“It’s very nice because it is done with intention, and taking the time to sit down with a senator or another VP to practice the pronunciation of the tribal names and going through the process together very much encompasses the general energy of what we try to do as the student government,” Hernandez said.
A president is only as strong as their board, and Hernandez has had nothing but good things to say about the people she works with. The ASG board, especially this year, has worked very closely with one another, while also maintaining healthy boundaries.
“Not only do I gain a lot of support and friendships, but I am always surrounded in an environment full of love and passion and strongly rooted in student advocacy,” Hernandez said.
While serving as president, Hernandez has learned how to handle the stress of an ever-increasing workload and has helped forge a pathway for new students hoping to be part of ASG. Nearing the end of the semester, she is not done yet.
In the next few months, ASG leadership hopes to update their Constitution and bylaws on the website and expand travel opportunities for the delegates. They also hope to lower the number of signatures needed to run for office due to Palomar’s enrollment rates.
Even with much left to do, Hernandez reflected on all she has done for ASG and accomplished with her team.
“It is really nice getting to see how everyone is growing in their positions and how they plan on translating that energy to the next upcoming year,” Hernandez said.
ASG Advisor Stephanie Linnander, who became advisor at the start of the year, has seen how Hernandez’s past participation in the student government has propelled her into success as student president.
“She has risen through the ranks of ASG, through various positions, which has made her equipped to assume the presidential role,” Linnander said.
As new ASG candidates prepare to run for election, the current ASG staff prepares to send off their beloved president into her next chapter at San Diego State University, pursuing a degree in English and comparative literature on the pathway to law school.
“I’m so thankful that I’ve gotten the chance to know her and work alongside her,” Fridman said. “She’s really incredible.”