René Howard-Paéz
April 17, 2013
Alas, I write my final editorial. What a journey it has been to spend four years, full of community, learning and friendships. I think I speak for all seniors when I say that attending Dominican has been a truly unique and wonderful experience. So, what could I possible say in this final piece after attempting to enlighten and enrich the community for a whole year?
Perhaps I could make this my personal list of thank-yous as if I just won an Oscar. Or, maybe I want to call out everyone who didn’t believe in me or assist me through my journey like Michael Jordan did during his hall of fame speech. I will do neither; instead, I would like to give a quick list of reflections for those who will continue at Dominican, especially students.
1. Get to know the sisters! They are some of the most wonderful people you will ever get a chance to meet in your lifetime. The sisters have master’s degrees, Ph.D.’s, have lived across the world, served the poor and met thousands of people. They have tremendous values, immense wisdom and are eager to just spread all of this with the students at Dominican.
2. Get involved, seriously. Dominican may be small, but there is no shortage of opportunities. Join something you think you might be interested in, or stick with a group that that you are passionate about. Student involvement can provide great experiences, look solid on a resume and also create some lifelong friendships.
3. Take risks and reach out to others. It is important to not get complacent at Dominican, because there is a bigger, scarier and tougher world out there waiting. Be sure to make connections and build strong bridges. Remember the saying, “It isn’t what you know, it’s who you know.” As a senior soon to enter the professional world, I cannot tell you how true that statement still is. During my previous summer internship, I put myself in an uncomfortable situation, took a risk and reached out to someone I did not know. In the end, it rewarded me with a tour of a major news network by their president and managing editor.
4. Challenge things! As loving and tight-knit as this community can be at time, don’t let it make you stop pushing for more and asking questions. If something isn’t right, challenge it and work to change it. Students have a unique opportunity to be able to change things they don’t agree with without fearing detrimental backlash, if done correctly. One of the most important lessons that I have learned during my time at Dominican is that challenging something or someone can be very difficult, but very rewarding. Do not let the fact that you may have to see someone every day dissuade you from pursuing things you are passionate about.
It has been a pleasure to have the opportunity to write diverse editorials on varying topics for this school year. I have had a wonderful experience as editor-in-chief and hope that some of the changes that were implemented this year continue to grow and blossom in the future.
Con todo mi amor para la communidad,
R.H.P.