FLA HELPS STUDENT TO SUCCEED LEADERSHIP GROUP HELPS LATINOS GET EDUCATION.

Byline: Paul O'Donoghue Staff Writer

OXNARD - Without the help of a leadership training organization for Latino youth, Melba Schneider probably wouldn't be at one of the nation's finest univesities, with plans to attend law school.

The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Schneider was among 70 people from Ventura, Orange and San Diego counties participating this week in a three-day training program sponsored by Future Leaders of America, that wrapped up Thursday in Oxnard.

A junior at the University of California at Berkeley, where she is majoring in political science with a minor in education, Scheider, 20, joined Future Leaders six years ago in her home town of Santa Ana. She was attracted by training that ranges from goal-setting and time management to lessons in parliamentary procedures, public speaking and group leadership.

``When I first started off in the organization, I was really shy and terrified to go in front of groups and speak in public,'' said Schneider, who now trains younger members.

``I was really lost, and through the organization I have gained so many things and have grown with them. I wouldn't be where I am today without FLA.

Schneider is certain she wouldn't be at Cal and looking toward law school at UCLA without the program, founded in 1982 by now-retired Camarillo High School teacher and counselor Gilbert Cuevas.

Cuevas was driven to help the Latino students who had a high drop out rate in high school, were attracted to gans and failed to achieve.

``I wanted to improve the opportunities for young Latinos so they can reach their full potential and also help them to realize the importance of the democratic process,'' said Cuevas, president of the nonprofit organization.

``There were so many students going into gangs, and it's real sad to see so many wasted lives.''

FLA, which focuses on 15- to 25-year-olds, has expanded from 55 members to more than 1,000 in the U.S. and Mexico, and has graduated 8,000 from its free programs that are funded by donations and sponsorships.

Cuevas said that although FLA is open to all youth regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion or gender, the organization focuses on Latinos because they remain the most undereducated major segment of the U.S. population.

Cuevas quoted from a UC Santa Barbara report of January 1996 that said just 3.9 percent of Latino graduating seniors in California are eligible for acceptance to the University of California and that just 6 percent attend the California State University system.

Assisting with training this wee at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center were youth leaders from the California Association of Students Councils, one of the nation's largest youth leadership organizations, as well as adult graduates of FLA programs.

Schneider said the skills she has learned with FLA have helped her land a part-time college counselor job at a high school as part of an outreach program at Cal, lead an FLA leadership program she is planning for the summer and win scholarships that have fully paid her college education.

And she said that mentoring is a vital part of the program from which she she has benefited in applying herself, setting goals and raising her grades.

``I've received so much from the other leaders and so feel the need to come back and give to the community,'' said Schneider.

``I see how I've benefited from it and want others to benefit from it too. It's a cycle to help others to grow. I think that by doing that we can make a difference.''