Courtesy of Ava Cai

Senior ASB president Ava Cai focuses on creating a stronger sense of community among students.

Ava Cai, now a senior and also the school’s ASB president, remembers the initial fears she had when she entered Redwood Middle School as a shy, soft-spoken sixth grader. She was new to Saratoga, having attended elementary school in Cupertino.

Cai noted that she was embraced into the community and even had chances to join the student leadership team at RMS. Once she started high school, she wanted to continue to help create the same sense of belonging for others that she had felt.

“I wanted to be part of the reason why other new students, or anyone at Saratoga, feels like that they’re part of the community,” Cai said.

For Cai, being ASB president isn’t just about coordinating events and running meetings — it’s about trying to connect to everyone. 

After serving as a class representative in her freshman and sophomore years and class president in her junior year, Cai learned how different commissions, officers and staff all collaborate. These years of experience improved her skills in planning, communication and teamwork.

As president, Cai is in charge of communicating with class officers and the members of various commissions. She also describes her role as being a sort of bridge between students, the administration and the district board.

The Leadership class is taught by Mark Higashioka, but it is a student-led class; typical meetings include running through the agenda followed by class office and commission reports. For the rest of the period, Cai usually meets with one of the commissions or works in the activities office.

She describes Leadership class as being a true team effort. 

“When we have an idea proposed, my job is to guide the process and I don’t have a bigger say in decisions than anyone else,” Cai said.

ASB’s main goal this year is strengthening inclusion across the whole student body. A major goal is to invite students in the Community-Based Instruction (CBI) program to more events such as school dances.

In the future, Cai wants to pursue a career in politics or international relations. She’s confident that the soft skills developed in leadership positions, like management and public speaking skills, will be essential for her future career interests.

For Cai, being ASB president means more than just the position. It’s about creating an environment where everyone feels seen, heard and connected. This viewpoint shapes the way in which she handles conflict within Leadership and also her everyday life.

“In high school, you’re just gonna have drama. You’re going to have interpersonal conflicts, but always look for the good in people,” Cai said.