Speech: Scholarship Dinner

[2020]

Edited by Genevieve Chan

Fifteen years ago, in 2005, I enrolled at Saint Martin’s as a first-year student in the Civil Engineering program. I still remember those small moments of transitioning from a high school student to becoming a first-generation college student. Like lining up in front of Mary Law’s office waiting to register for my classes, meeting Bob Grisham and talking about how I could get a walk-on spot on the women’s golf team, walking up the fourth floor of Old Main with my classmates to get to Joe Mailhot’s calculus II class, and getting to know my room and floor-mates and RA, Danika, on the first floor of Spangler. It was the start of a grand adventure for me—an initial step into my goal of being an independent adult. 

The faculty here challenged me to be open-minded, to be a critical thinker, to practice due diligence, and to see the world beyond my perspective. From Fr. Killian’s Intro to New Testament, Rex Casillas’ History of Islamic Civilization, Katherine Porter’s Prob and Stats class, David Price and Olivia Archibald’s Intro to Cultural Anthropology, John Hopkins’ Social Philosophy course, Blaine Snow’s Tai Chi course, and Jeff Birkenstein’s Intro to Food and Fiction, to all of my engineering courses with Drs. D, McClure, Jung, Seong, Igharo, Mahamah, and John Sladek – they taught me to see all my academic experiences as learning opportunities to serve the world through my vocation.   

Outside of the classroom, my education continued in seeing the Benedictine values lived out by the staff and other members of this community. I was inspired by how hospitable everyone was, even in our small daily interactions. I worked for Mrs. Hopie Lopez in old Cebula: she exuded a welcoming spirit to any and all. I often went to noon prayers with the monks, and their quiet yet welcoming nature encouraged me to explore and foster my faith.  I often talked to the custodial staff in Spangler about my day, and they taught me to be a good listener to everyone without judgment or prejudice. I valued the respect shown to me by the financial aid staff, who unwearyingly walked me through the complex process of money and education.

I became involved in student organizations, for my major (ASCE and SWE), as well as other student communities where I was able to foster my cultural and spiritual understanding. Susan Leyster in Campus Ministry encouraged me to see myself as a servant to the world through my many summer service trips. I was inspired by John Hopkins to think about social justice and diversity and how I can impact change. My peers, like Bianca Galam, Angelica Villanueva, Deanna Gomes, and other friends, challenged me to be a better leader, one who seeks to serve others in an inclusive manner. My involvement in clubs as well as my interactions with the people within it was central to me feeling supported in delving deeper into my personal heritage, exploring the world through a lens of learning and service, and, with ASCE, encouraged me to pursue civil engineering as a career.

As I continued my time at Saint Martin’s, I noticed myself transforming from a nice, quiet kid who just sort of tagged along to a less quiet adult, but one who had a sense of purpose and one who wanted to actively engage the world around me.

That challenge to use my brain and my heart led to better serve my community by coming back as a faculty member here at Saint Martin’s.

After graduating in 2009, I remained in contact with members of this community, particularly Dr. Igharo, who encouraged me to pursue a graduate degree in transportation engineering. Later John Sladek encouraged me to teach, saying that I would be a good fit as a teacher here at Saint Martin’s. It was then I realized that teaching here enabled me link who I am, what I do, and how I could give back.        

Ever since I was an undergrad, this community has inspired me to be the best version of myself. First, through the faculty and the staff, then with my fellow classmates, and now with my own students.

I have been teaching here at Saint Martin’s for five years. I’ve been able to empathize with students in their struggle with difficult concepts in classes. And I’ve also felt great joy as students overcame those challenges and engage in critical analysis. I’m constantly encouraged to be a better teacher when I observe our students exhibit competency in applying concepts in the classroom to solve complex problems in the real world.

Looking back to my experiences as both a student and now as an advisor, it has become even more obvious to me that our students embody a unique form of leadership, one that is framed around listening with the heart, seeking the sacred in others, and leading with a goal, not to be known, but to serve. 

I have been inspired by these students’ desire make a positive change in their communities. As an advisor to KaPuso, the Benedictine Scholars Program, Society of Women Engineers, and the Pacific Islander Club, and as a member of the People of Color group, I’ve been able to see firsthand our students’ desire to extend beyond themselves and to do good for the world.

I feel great joy impacting students’ lives as a teacher, advisor and mentor. Unfortunately, there are limits to what I can give of myself in those positions, including the limit of time. Because of this, I try to support in other ways. Whether it’s supporting bake sales of clubs on campus or giving a little of my paycheck every month back to the university. 

Through my lived experiences, I know investing in the students here will make a positive difference. I know it did for me. As a first-generation immigrant and student and one who lived in poverty throughout my childhood, my family did not have the financial resources to support my education on their own. My education here at Saint Martin’s would not have been possible without the support of scholarships and grants, without the investment from the many organizations and people in this room.

In many ways, Saint Martin’s has changed quite a bit since that day I stepped onto campus fifteen years ago. We’ve added buildings, seen our student body grow, said goodbye to some members of the community and welcomed others into the fold. Even with these changes, I still see us grounded in our shared mission to see people grow in their knowledge, delve deeper into truth, to do good, to serve and to lead. 

I’m grateful this opportunity to talk with you all. And thank you again for supporting me and all our students.