“For everyone that is going to be attending Mesa College this upcoming year, I just hope that you feel at home,” he said. “I’ve had past experiences where I did not feel welcomed and did not get the support that I needed. When you feel at home here, I think that's the best feeling you can ever have.”
Palomino’s own journey has had challenges. While at Scripps Ranch High School, he took dual enrollment courses that gave him a head start but also showed the difficulty of navigating higher education without guidance.
“At first, I didn’t take the right courses,” he recalled. “But now I’m on track to complete my associate degree and transfer to a four-year university.”
His top choices include the University of San Diego and UC San Diego, with plans to study law. Wanting to help his loved ones, Palomino dreams of becoming an immigration lawyer.
“I think we are in a time where immigration law is a big need,” he said. “We must try and really be there for our neighbors, be there for the person who's right next to us, and be there for those who are immigrants.”
This year, Palomino, who currently resides in Chula Vista, will represent students at District board meetings and will travel to Sacramento and Washington, D.C., for higher education advocacy. He also interns with a local attorney, gaining legal experience he brings back to campus as he works to expand student support services and promote inclusive policies.
“I know the better I take advantage of these opportunities, the better I can serve,” he said. “I want to make sure that students feel not just safe, but also ensure they feel comfortable with telling me their concerns and any changes that they’d like to see on campus, from programs to courses, whatever the case may be, I would love to support them.”
Palomino also founded the Forensic Minds Club at Mesa College, which grew to nearly 80 members in its first semester due to his personal outreach at the campus library. The club focuses on the complexities of criminology and the psychology behind criminal behavior, and its members work to analyze real-world issues, advocate for justice, and deepen their knowledge in the intersections of psychology, criminal justice, and science.
“I wasn’t shy about it,” he said. “You can try social media work… but I think talking one-on-one is way, way more efficient. You gain a connection, and people get to know you, and you get to know them.”
Grounded in humility, Palomino sees himself first as a peer.
“The best way to engage is by reminding people that I’m a student just like them,” he explained. “Yes, I’m the president and a trustee, but at the end of the day, I’m their classmate.”
To stay motivated he advises, “don’t let failure stop you or define you. Learn from your mistakes, stay persistent, and never give up on your future. That’s what’s gotten me here, and I know it can help others too.”