Classes, homework, extracurricular activities, practicing healthy habits and maintaining a social life can seem like a balancing act that is almost impossible for college students.
For senior Myers Mentzer, however, it’s her everyday: being the Student Government Association’s student body president, taking classes at Caruso School of Law and prioritizing her Christian faith through being involved in a church community.
Her reach extends far beyond the students in her classes and major.
“She has always been incredibly sweet and patient,” first-year SGA Senator Emily Espinosa said. “She fosters a community that is safe and family-like to excel in.”
The senior Business Administration major from Dallas, Texas, said she started as a class senator in SGA her first year. In her sophomore year, she served as sophomore class president. By her junior year, she was the executive vice president of the student body.
Under her leadership, Mentzer said she has created a new structure for the SGA committees that will better integrate students’ voices and produce lasting results. These SGA committees seek to bridge the gap between SGA members and the student body, something Mentzer thinks is important.
She has also led initiatives to expand accessibility on campus through Pepperdine Mobility Transport Service, which provides rides to students who have chronic health conditions and disabilities.
In addition to her leadership achievements, Mentzer said she has completed a certificate in conflict management from the Caruso School of Law and plans to either go to law school or go straight into consulting after graduation. Whatever she does, she wants to make a difference in the community around her, just as she has at Pepperdine.
She said she emphasizes the importance of drawing distinctions between school and home spaces, which may be hard for students who live on campus. Mentzer makes sure she only does certain activities in certain spaces to make associations between a space for rest versus a space for work.
“If I am doing homework, I will be in the library. If I am doing SGA activities, I will be in the SGA office,” Mentzer said. “If I am relaxing and winding down, I will be in my dorm room or hanging out with friends.”
She has attended Shepherd Church in Porter Ranch since her first year, and she said that some of her best memories from Pepperdine have occurred on the hour-long drive there.
Mentzer also practices a 24-hour Sabbath every week to give herself a full day off of school and work responsibilities. She said this allows her to reconnect with God and her faith, as well as provide a structured time to spend with friends and family.
“My day of Sabbath is one of my most important habits,” Mentzer said, “as it gives me time to rest and reset while preparing for the week ahead.”
Mentzer said these habits allow for strict boundaries between work and life, promoting balance and healthy habits. It pushes her to still have time for friends and enjoy college without feeling overwhelmed by the workload and responsibilities associated with it.
Mentzer also emphasizes the importance of collaboration and teamwork. She often leads study groups and opportunities for collaboration with her classmates. She said working together with others has inspired her leadership and continued success.
“Not only is Myers a passionate and confident leader, she is also remarkably kind and has always made it clear that fostering a strong family-like community within our senate is a priority for her,” Espinosa said.
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Contact Nikki Quartuccio via email: nikki.quartuccio@pepperdine.edu
