Former Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth visited College of the Canyons to share his journey in politics and inspire students on how they can find success in their own careers.
Smyth discussed how he first became interested in public service and why understanding local government is crucial for young people.
“I think there’s a lot of value in sharing ideas and hearing from them what issues are important but in particularly locally But I also think it’s important that people learn about local government because it isn’t covered as much as it should be, but yet has a real impact on everybody’s day-to-day life so the more opportunities i have to explain how your local governments work and how they impact you is a great opportunity for me to take advantage of,” said Smyth.
The meeting provided students with the opportunity to ask questions about city, state, and national issues and hear Smyth’s professional perspective on the challenges of leadership and decision-making.
The event also highlighted the Political Science Club, which regularly brings leaders to campus and creates a safe space for open discussion.
“Last academic year, we actually hosted numerous guest speakers, one of them being our current representative, George Whitesides, and my future insight for our club is to continue cultivating this welcoming, vibrant environment of different perspectives and people just being open to talk about politics in a safe space,” said Faith Wilson, a member of the Political Science Club.
The club hopes that events like these encourage more students to get involved, share their ideas, and see firsthand how politics can shape their communities.
For the Political Science Club, Cameron Smyth’s visit was about more than politics it was about learning, building connections, and creating a space for students to find their voice.
