Student Leaders Spotlight: Tom Van/ Colorado ASDA president

Hello! 

My name is Tom Van, and I am the current president for Colorado ASDA. I am a rising 3rd year as well as a Colorado Native. 

What motivated you to apply to be ASDA President? 

In my early pre-dental years, I would participate in many events that Colorado ASDA hosted. During these events, it taught me more than what it takes to be a good applicant for school but also the possibility to positively influence my colleagues and my community through organized dentistry. I wanted to advocate to my community that oral health is an integral aspect in an individual’s overall health. By being involved in ASDA, I felt that I had the necessary resources to be the voice for dental students as well as serving my community. This inspired me to want to be at the forefront of these changes which encouraged me apply and be elected as ASDA President for my chapter. 

How are you balancing both a student and leader in the school? 

Both leadership and being a student involves lifelong learning which helped me balance the two positions in school. Being a part of ASDA is my release from stress and angst that exist in school, and at the same time, it is also related to my career and goals. I believe that the essence of balancing anything in life is having the right attitude. As long as we continue to keep a positive mindset, establish a clear goal and maintain a consistent schedule, everything will fall into place! Optimism will lead the way. 

Any advice you have for other students to take on leadership?

What I hope for anyone who decides to go into leadership is to enjoy and be passionate about the field. From my previous mentors and leaders that inspired me, I have learned that leadership is an action, not a title. To be elbow deep in the trenches, pulling the ropes, to listen and to be adaptable is what I believe makes a great leader. 

The last and most important advice I want to offer is to not be afraid of stepping into leadership! You do not need to know everything on how to be a leader in order to be a great one. I am constantly learning on what works best by communicating and listening to my executive board members. There is a saying that you can determine the efficacy of a leader by the growth of the team, but I think the opposite can also be said in that you can determine the efficacy of a team by the growth of its leader.