On Saturday, June 13, 2009, L.A. County Sup. Gloria Molina spoke informally with 32 high school students at the Adelante Leadership Program at the Salesian Boys and Girls Club in East L.A. about relevant county issues and her personal journey becoming an L.A. County supervisor. Students mostly 14-17 years old from Oscar De La Hoya Animo Charter High School, as well as Huntington Park, South Gate, and Montebello High Schools in the First District, attended the conference. Sup. Gloria Molina answered questions about balancing home and work life, and she described how her greatest challenge included ditching restrictive family and cultural traditions that emphasize a woman’s place in the home. She spoke candidly about the importance of being self-reliant saying, “You have to have confidence and self-assurance in order to lead others.” The program was taped for those students not in attendance and was an inspiring discussion for future community leaders. Sup. Gloria Molina’s personal story lent an example for students interested in a career of public service.