As one leader among many in the Arkansas Tech University student body, Fernando Flores is grateful to study and live in an environment that makes him a better version of himself.
“I saw someone post about iron sharpening iron, and whenever I read that it clicked with me,” said Flores. “If I can make a peer or another leader better, that means they can in turn influence others and influence me. There are many students I can list who I see as role models even though they are younger than me or the same age as me. I call them my role models because I hope I can be like them going forward. Iron sharpens iron is the best way to describe how we make each other better. We’re not in this alone, and that makes me really happy.”
Flores, a junior from Clarksville, was selected by the ATU Center for Student Engagement and First-Gen Success as the October 2025 ATU student leader of the month.
“I think what makes this place (ATU) home is truly the community that you yourself build,” said Flores. “We talk about it a lot in residence life…community to us is very important. It’s one of the highlights in our goals to create a welcoming community and a beneficial community. To me, it means being together and facing life together.”
An agriculture business major, Flores is president for two ATU student organizations: ATU Presidential Leadership Cabinet and ATU MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences). He is a resident assistant in the ATU Department of Residence Life, secretary of finance and administration for ATU Student Government Association, a new student orientation leader and the social media manager for the ATU Department of Agriculture and Tourism.
“What I get out of it is not purely for me,” said Flores. “It’s purely for others. When I go to Time Out for Tech, I’m not going for myself. I’m going for other students that are either unsure about whether they want to go to college or unaware about the opportunities they have here. I’m not going to these events the university or my department hosts for me. I’m going to benefit others because I know my presence has an impact, and I know my peers being present has an impact on me.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned about problem solving is finding the big picture,” continued Flores. “I know that in every scenario there’s always something different. If you are too narrow-minded, you won’t be able to completely solve a problem. You have to be open-minded and be able to see the problem through different lenses.”
Following his graduation from Arkansas Tech, Flores hopes to pursue a master’s degree in international affairs or public service with a career goal of working for the government, preferably for the U.S. Department of State at an embassy or in Washington, D.C.
“I think with every event, whether it’s small or big, I’m so privileged to be here (at ATU)…I’m so honored to be here,” said Flores. “Even if it’s just a tiny event like a grab-and-go for residence life, I’m honored to be there because I get to give back to a community that has built me up and I get to influence others. As a first-generation student, I’m very happy to be a part of ATU.”
