Inspiration through example

A year ago, Aimeera Flint was just one of many working adults re-entering school. The 29-year old was a struggling mother trying to balance her school and work life while raising a toddler.

Today, she still maintains that work balance, and she continues to raise her son, but in addition, Flint also heads the Student Fee Committee, a group in charge of distributing over $12 million in student fees to student groups.

As the chairperson for the SFC, Flint facilitates meetings, works with budget request approvals and ensures that SFC guidelines are followed with each decision concerning student fees.

Flint said she was inspired to get involved with student government when she noticed the lack of students of color who participated. She wanted to be given a voice, and have her voice speak for those who can’t speak for themselves.

“I’m bringing a fresh perspective [to the SFC]. I get to have a seat at the table and share my voice,” Flint said.

Flint is not familiar with the politics of Portland State’s student government, something she identifies as a strength in herself. With little knowledge of the past workings of student government, Flint says she will be able to have her fresh perspective, and inspire her fellow classmates to become involved–educationally, culturally and physically.

An early struggleGrowing up in Portland, Flint believes herself to be “a rose that grew from the concrete.”

Flint said she struggled throughout her younger days, caring about her friends more than her schoolwork. Her mother never stressed to her the importance of education.

By eighth grade, Flint had developed college-level reading and writing skills, but she never really pushed herself until later on in life. She earned her GED and started taking classes at Portland Community College, and then she decided to go to Portland State.

“I’ve always had a strong passion for reading and writing,” Flint said. “I love books and I read a lot. I don’t want to drill it into my son, but I want to inspire him.”

Flint hopes to start inspiring her son early on. She plans to enroll him in a Spanish-language immersion school, so that he has a strong base in reading, writing and speaking two languages. Flint said she wants to show her son the beauty of different cultures, and spoke emphatically on the subject.

“I’m teaching him that no matter your race, background, color–if you’re the Pope, the president or someone off the streets-we are all the same,” Flint said.

Flint said it is her goal to show students of color the many resources they have available to them. She hopes to also create more of a welcoming environment for all students through her fresh take on the world.

“My actions will benefit Portland State University because I’m not the same old song,” Flint said.

Moving aheadLooking beyond the Park Blocks, Flint plans to follow her childhood dreams of working in the legal system by going to law school on the East Coast and working in criminal law. She aspires to eventually become a judge.

Flint hopes to also assist in an overhaul of the criminal justice system, to help eliminate all of the corruption that she says surrounds it. And she also envisions a nationwide audit of the police systems to directly remove the corruption she says she sees.

Above all else, Flint said she hopes to inspire students to become more culturally aware and to show more empathy through developing a sense of community. Flint said she believes that problems in our society come from a lack of knowledge of culture.

“We are all teachers,” Flint said.