SAN JOSE, CALIF. — Elaine Tran has forged her own path of self growth and confidence as an avid and active member of the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) for the last two years.

YAC is a student-led volunteer group that exists within each district of San Jose, where it is organized among one commissioner and a group of teens, who work as Youth Advisory Council members. These positions for commissioner and council members are under an application system; commissioners are interviewed and approved by the City Council,and YAC members are chosen by the selected commissioner.

The group is expected to meet twice a month, write policies or proposals they wish to suggest to the City Council and organize events they would like to plan locally. In addition, they attend an Annual Youth Budget Summit, where all the YACs from each district meet and discuss with each other. The main goal for YAC is to provide and ensure youth have a voice in their district.

Tran, currently a sophomore at Silver Creek High School, was initially recruited in her freshman year by the 2024 commissioner for District 7 (San Jose), Megan Luong. After sending in her application, she was given the opportunity to be a council member for YAC.

Being a part of YAC and having the responsibility in planning local events for San Jose, she highlights the Creative Futures Fair to be her favorite. It was arranged for the sole purpose of promoting young entrepreneurs and their small businesses. “It’s just so nice to see all these people coming together and showing off their creations,” Tran said.

When Bien Doan, the District 7 Council Member, held a commemoration for YAC to congratulate their successful and first Creative Futures Fair organized, Tran felt “really special, like oh my goodness I’m in YAC and I helped plan a fair! YAC is so great, but not many people know about it.”

Before being a council member, the only leadership experience Tran has had was being a part of Girl Scouts since fourth grade.She is presently working to receive the Gold award, a time-consuming and strenuous task, that involves consideration of sustainability and deep planning. 

To complete this goal, she has arranged a project in support of 8th graders at Quimby Oak Middle School to be prepared to enter high school and is currently waiting for approval of her proposal.

Pursuing interests such as Girl Scouts and YAC, Tran acknowledges it requires ample time, but also much mental strength. But, she expresses her difficulty and isolation in her freshman year, and how it makes her think doing these types of activities are for “the better.” 

Despite Luong leaving YAC this year and a switch in commissioner, Tran continues to persevere in the committee.“I’m still in YAC because I feel like it’s a little safe space to grow,” she says.

Comparing her first and second year, she describes last year to be more challenging due to time management issues and clashing schedules with her other extracurriculars and classes, but also the emphasis on policy writing that specific year they were assigned to do in YAC.

However, Tran regrets turning down volunteer opportunities due to their major requirement of public speaking, saying the fear comes from “the thought of talking to a bunch of people and not knowing what to say, sometimes I just stand there and then my voice starts to shake.” Despite this hurdle, she has decided to change her mindset more positively this year and reports she’s been happier than before. 

As she currently contemplates applying for the commissioner role, with the deadline at early March, Tran advises new applicants for YAC that they should “have a desire to make a difference in the community.” Because she describes the committee as all about voicing your opinions and impacting San Jose empathetically.