Anthony Benn is a junior at FSU double majoring in Biological Sciences and Political Science. He is currently a candidate for Student Body Vice President (SBVP) and is currently serving as Vice Chair of the 59 Union Board in SGA. I had the pleasure of getting to know Benn when we took a biology class together while studying abroad in London in the summer of 2023. After you’ve cried over recessive and dominant genotype patterns together, your bond is eternal. Let’s get to it!
Her Campus (HC): What involvement on campus resonates with your pre-med side, and how does your pre-medical background give you an advantage as VP?
Anthony Benn (AB): Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved science, learning about animals, the stars, people, and the world. A big part of who I am I would attribute to my love for the sciences and human health. An involvement that allows me to highlight this is Phi Delta Epsilon. It’s nice to let my STEM side show with PhiDE and have gained a “phamily” that’s composed of such driven and inspiring individuals.
STEM-related issues are a more niche topic for a VP to tackle, but a very cool one given that we go to a university that takes pride in academic research, which I participated in through UROP. A health-related matter that I plan to focus on is student mental health by working closely with the Mental Health Council to ensure student well-being, [as well as] making students aware of mental health resources available to them.
HC: How will the student government help you in your medical career? Why SGA and medicine?
AB: I love being a servant-leader to the Student Body. I want to give people a positive experience that they remember way past their time at Florida State. Student government and medicine both help to foster a sense of community. It’s all about how you make people feel which will create optimism within the FSU atmosphere. My passion for serving and helping others are important factors in the connections between health and student government.
After the passing of my father, I felt very motivated to pursue this path both pre-med and my path in student government. My father passed away months before I was to study abroad in London, and I almost didn’t go. But I did, and studying abroad gave me a new perspective. This newfound respect for life has made it so that I don’t believe in limits and want to strengthen unity on campus by fostering a sense of inclusivity and belonging among students.
In pushing my limits, I have taken every opportunity to help people and to learn from others. I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason, and I know my dad is watching over me and the goals I set for myself are to keep going and make him proud.
HC: How prepared do you feel for this position?
AB: I couldn’t be more excited to be running for the role of SBVP. Some highlights of the job focus on supporting RSOs, as well as working with our Student Government Agencies, bureaus, and institutes. A big goal of mine would be to build interpersonal relationships here on campus. As someone who identifies as an Asian-American and African-American, I want to represent all communities on campus and be the remedy of the problems my classmates are encountering on campus. I want to bridge the gap between the faculty and students to make it a more cohesive environment.
HC: How do your ethnic identities help you in this position?
AB: Minority representation at a predominately white institution matters, and I want to make minorities feel welcome. Being a minority myself, when I first came to campus, it was very easy to feel like a little fish in a big pond, but I was lucky enough to find my people and space here at Florida State. Getting the chance to connect with other students to their homes/spaces and to help them find their sense of belonging is one of my biggest goals.
I also feel like it’s very easy for people on the pre-med path to feel like they must follow a set-in-stone journey and check certain boxes to reach their goals. I didn’t want to follow the traditional path and that’s how I am today. This goes for any major or path that anyone decides to take. You can write your own story — don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Trust that in the end it will work out for the best, and be kind to yourself along the way. I chose to run for Student Body VP because I love my school and the people in it and want to continue the legacy that is FSU.
As someone who’s never been involved in politics at FSU, I was amazed at the passion Benn has for them. Mark your calendars for March 6!
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