First-Year Leadership Opportunity (FLO) is an Associated Student program designed specifically for first-year students looking for ways to get involved with the Chico State campus and community. Each month one member is chosen by their fellow FLO members and peers as the person who has stood out and shown FLO’s core values. This month's FLO representative is Kevin Lee.
What inspired you to get involved with FLO, and how long have you been a member?
Me wanting to find a sense of belonging is what inspired me to join FLO. When I first came to Chico State, I didn’t know anyone and so I started to look for on campus opportunities to meet new people. That’s when I stumbled upon FLO. At first I wasn’t sure if I would like it but I decided to give it a try. I have been a member since Fall Semester, this is my second semester in the program.
How has FLO affected or influenced your experiences here at Chico State?
FLO has definitely enhanced my experiences here at Chico State. Upon joining, I met a lot of new people and it gave me more confidence in myself. Overall, it encouraged me to try out more clubs and ultimately led to me to apply for the Summer Orientation Leader position. Since joining FLO, I was able to overcome my fear of talking to new people.
How has your involvement with FLO impacted your personal and professional life?
My involvement with FLO has impacted my personal and professional life by allowing me to expand my knowledge in many fields. It allowed me to meet new people and develop more friendships. Professionally, I learned a lot from how to send professional emails to how to professionally dress. The class sessions helped me to develop my knowledge in leadership and is used in my everyday life.
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in getting involved with FLO or a similar program?
The advice I would give to someone who is interested in getting involved with a program is, “try it out.” During your first year at college there are so many different experiences for you to see what you like best. No matter what your interest is, there should be a group of people or program that you resonate with.
What are your goals and aspiration for the rest of your time here at Chico State?
My goals for the rest of my time at Chico State is to get involved in more clubs within my college. Attend the career fairs and establish relationships with the recruiters to obtain a summer internship and perhaps a job.
In your opinion, what role does recognition and appreciation play in building a strong and supportive community like FLO?
Recognition and appreciation play a big role in building a strong and supportive community like FLO. It shows that everyone is known and makes the person realize that they have contributed to the group. It increases their confidence and allows them to be motivated to accomplish their goals. When everyone is recognized it makes the group feel closer.
Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspiration for your continued involvement in FLO and the Associated Students, and how do you see this vision achievement fitting into that vision?
My continued involvement in the Associated Students include attending more events hosted by them. This fits into the vision stated above by allowing me to meet new people and establish connections I can use later on whether that be if I have a question or am interested in applying for an on-campus job.
My name is Kevin Lee and I am a first year student at Chico State. I am majoring in Business Administration with an option in Project Management. I enjoy being outdoors doing activities such as hiking, biking, and running. I gained these interests from Boy Scouts which I achieved the rank of first class. I came to Chico to pursue higher education. I chose Business Administration as my major because I have previous experience in this field. From 2020-2023 I have been helping out my community when there were supply chain issues causing a shortage of many items. During this time I have refurbished and resold many items ranging from furniture to bikes. This gave me a sense of pride as I was able to help my community obtain items they needed as well as keeping the earth green. I learned many skills from this experience such as how to properly write up an ad, deal with customer concerns, and improve my communication skills. Some of my life goals are to be a manager one day. Although I have mainly had experience as an entrepreneur, I know I can be a good leader. As seen with my current position as the Vice President of the Management Club on campus.
