Crystal Carson, Elected Co-Chair

Tell us about yourself:
Hello everyone my name is Crystal Michelle Carson and I am a 20 year old student at CPCC. I was born in North Carolina, not too far from here on a military base in Fayetteville. I did not stay there long before me and my family moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where I was raised for most of my life. One year ago I moved to Charlotte on my own, got a job and began working on my dream to be a Retail Pharmacist. Growing up I was never really into sports, I can’t sing (I do ...all the time), and I have no artistic abilities. So volunteering has always been my outlet. Along with this I come to find I have a real love for interior design, nutrition is an interest for me and my I plan to learn how to play the acoustic guitar very soon.

What qualities do you possess that would make you an ideal candidate for this position? 
My ability to lead, my flexibility, and my self-motivation. I am sure all of you will come to find that I am reliable, friendly and always have a positive attitude. I have a strong passion for our community, and I feel service is so important. Not only does it benefit those around us but it also makes us more aware. I would love to represent all of you and use my past experience to help anyone who needs it. I have gained leadership training in the past, when I worked a year and a half as a retail manager at Wet Seal. There I learn to direct and guide my fellow co-workers. I am not only involved in this community but also when I was living in Anchorage, AK. Along with being a participant in the service club for a past semester, I have also volunteered with the organization, Hands on Charlotte.

Name one of your strengths:
One of my strengths is my ability to adapt. A good example, I believe is every time I attend a new service project. There are times when I have gone into events not knowing what I was getting into. A feeling I’m sure some of you can relate to. But whether it’s landscape or cooking, I always feel prepared and ready to work.

What is your favorite charity/ social issue you feel most passionate about? Why? 
The charity I feel most drawn to is the Invisible Children foundation. This non profit is focused on raising money to help provide assistants for the 23 year long war in Uganda. This was continues to haunt the community and by driving families from their homes and turning young, innocent children into soldiers. They continue to fight to bring awareness to this on-going tragedy and raise funds to provide clean water, economic opportunities, health care centers and education for the Ugandan people. This charity reminds me to appreciate and the love the community and opportunities I have been blessed with.

What is your proudest accomplishment? 
One of my proudest accomplishments is about a month away, when I receive my certification as a pharmacy technician. This means I will have accomplished the first huge step to realizing my dream job as an actual pharmacist. For now though, I’d have to say successfully moving away from my family and support system to learn who I am and what I want.

If you could take 3 things with you onto a deserted island, what would they be?
If I could take three things with me on a deserted island I would take an instructional book on how to survive on a deserted island. Or actually just my laptop with wireless internet, that way I can Google how to survive. I would take a photo album containing pictures of my family and friends. Finally I would take a life time supply of the best candy in the world, Now & Laters

Mike Dong, Elected Co-Chair

Tell us about yourself:
I was born in China and immigrated to US in 1999. I like to interact with people from different backgrounds and cultures. I also like to stay active and I exercise four times a week. I love to hangout with friends, and I’m very adventurous. In five years, I hope to be in law school.

What qualities do you possess that would make you an ideal candidate for this position? 
I'm a very reliable person, very open minded, and I perform my duties with full commitment.

Name one of your strengths:
I am willing to accept criticism form other people and put their thoughts and concerns into consideration. I also am open-minded and I have friends of all religions and races. Whenever we talk, I listen to their stories objectively.

What is your favorite charity/ social issue you feel most passionate about? Why? 
 I belief we should provide people with tools and skills that are necessary for individual personal and professional success,  but be careful not to solve every problem for them because I fell its valuable for people to solve their own problems in order to grow as a person. I also feel very strongly about the Utilitarian philosophy that lives by ‘the greatest good for the greatest number of people.’

What is your proudest accomplishment? 
I don’t think I have accomplished my proudest moment yet! However, I am really proud of completing an internship with Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. That definitely was a stepping stone towards my goal.

If you could take 3 things with you onto a deserted island, what would they be?
I would take a fishing net, an axe, and antibiotics.

Jon Hill, Elected Treasurer

Tell us about yourself:
My name is Jon Hill. I was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. My family has lived in the Carolinas for over 200 years. I am active in church, play music, and read a lot. In five years I'll be in graduate school, hopefully in either New York or Philadelphia. I plan on receiving a Masters of Divinity and becoming a minister/priest. Afterwards I would like to become a full-time foreign missionary. I love to travel and plan on studying abroad, hopefully in Buenos Aires or London.

What qualities do you possess that would make you an ideal candidate for this position?
I'm a very organized person, dedicated to helping out the community, and an accounting major. I've worked in accounts payable for a 501c3 organization's finance department, as well as having been the treasurer of a self-supporting ministry.

Name one of your strengths:
I'm a very organized person, in both my personal and business life. My books at home are separated by genre, then sorted alphabetically. I have all my bills and important papers organized in a similar fashion, filed in a hanging folder going all the way back to my high school years. 

What is your favorite charity/social issue you feel most passionate about? Why?
My favorite charity is the local Charlotte Rescue Mission . It provides a 90-day in-patient drug & alcohol rehab free of charge to both men & women in the Charlotte area. I feel it is a brilliant approach to changing people's lives. Most urban Christian missions just provide a place for people to eat and sleep, but Charlotte Rescue Mission provides both a Christian and 12-step therapeutic treatment program, creating a place that addresses the issues that keep many people homeless and gives them the opportunity to begin a new normal, productive life.

What is your proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment is having one of my band's songs being featured on a nationally distributed compilation of up and coming bands.

If you could take 3 things with you onto a deserted island, what would they be?
A bible, sunscreen, and a satellite phone to call home to get someone to come get me!