Tiffany Guzman: A Ray of Hope
By Michael A. Daniels, Senior Editor
The talents and drive of San Bernardino Valley College students never cease to amaze. But how much more valuable are those attributes when possessed by the one student representing the student body to the Community College Board of Trustees. That student is Tiffany Guzman, and she has a unique and inspiring story.
Tiffany Joy Guzman is a political science major at Valley College who last year was elected as Student Trustee to the San Bernardino College Association. She also serves in several other roles at SBVC. She is both the treasurer and ICC rep for the Student California Teacher’s Association (SCTA), a club that supports and advocates for California educators. And she is the founder of the Make a Change Committee, an open group intended to identify problems on campus and address them accordingly. Her intentions are to transfer to a school in the UC system with a view to a career in teaching, or administration, or maybe even politics. Like many other students, she hasn’t fully decided yet on what she ultimately wants to do, but she recognizes her future is filled with possibilities. This bright outlook doesn’t come by accident. It was cultivated in her life through many experiences, but one ultimate victory. Tiffany Guzman is a cancer survivor.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Tiffany in her office in the Liberal Arts building (CC-217), and she relayed her story to me:
“I was six years old and we were at Disneyland,” she said. She then demonstrated how, while she and her father were standing in line for one of the rides he happened to place his hand on her neck just under the chin to the right and felt a lump. Very soon after he brought Tiffany to the doctor to get checked out, and although it wasn’t a tumor, but a swollen lymph node, the doctor felt it warranted further testing. The results of the tests…LEUKEMIA. This was devastating news to her friends and family. According to cancer.gov only 57% of people diagnosed with this rare form of blood cancer survive for at least five years. According to Tiffany, who is a woman of faith, abundant prayer combined with the full regiment of doctor care, rounds of radiation treatment, chemotherapy, and even a bone marrow transplant, brought her well beyond those statistics. She is now cancer free and in excellent health.
No wonder she has a “never say die” attitude when it comes to bringing positive change to the San Bernardino Valley College experience. She indicated that her struggle with cancer which lasted over four years had a profound effect on her outlook on life. “I’m not afraid to die,” she said matter of factly, “but I do want to make a positive difference while I’m here on earth.” Clearly she’s not afraid to fail either; in fact, she uses it as a source of motivation. When I asked her what inspires her to tackle new projects, I received a one word answer, “Failure.”
She was referring specifically to the Make a Change Committee’s inability to attract students to its cause. “I wasn’t able to get students to join me,” she admitted, “So I decided I would just have to meet them where they are.” We talked about that old adage, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”
“But,” she countered, with a twinkle in her eye, “some horses will drink. Those are the types of people I’m looking for. I’ve got my eye on a few.”
To this end she shared her plan to produce an as yet untitled video project introducing students new and old to the plethora of resources available to them at San Bernardino Valley College. This video would feature students at SBVC, and her hope is that professors would all show the video in their respective classes on the first day of each new semester.
If Tiffany’s track record is any indicator, this video project will be a roaring success. She was the coordinator last year of the SGA Christmas celebration that drew well over six hundred participants and thirty volunteers. She was instrumental in bringing congressional candidates from District 31 to Valley last year so students could understand where they stood on the issues. She has overseen and contributed to numerous events and activities on campus, including this reporter’s first open mic event.
Besides the upcoming unnamed video project, Tiffany has other ideas to uplift the campus. These include bringing more awareness and involvement in the democratic process, making Valley College an Official Polling Place, and streamlining the process of funding clubs. While searching for ways to bring these goals to fruition, Tiffany indicated she is determined to continue being an ambassodor by “building bridges” between the student body, the Student Government and the highest levels of administration.
If there is any time in her life after all of this, you might find Tiffany on the golf range or a yoga mat “Yoga keeps me sane,” she smirked. And a sane Tiffany is a good thing, for all our sakes.
If you would like to contact Tiffany in need of assistance or with ideas to implement positive changes on campus you may contact her office at (909) 633-3302.
[ed:jn]
The Arrowhead News Online 
You go, girl!
I will volunteer my time and effort to help with whatever she needs help with.