Being the child of immigrant parents, I quickly learned that success was often defined by two paths: becoming a doctor or a lawyer. The expectations were high, and from a young age those ideals were deeply instilled in me. I embraced them wholeheartedly, envisioning myself as a successful immigration lawyer. It seemed like the perfect way to honor my family's sacrifices while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
I believed I was on the right path, earning my undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland. However, everything changed when I began serving in youth ministry at my local parish. The young people I encountered taught me as much about myself as they did about God. Through them, I experienced God's profound, relentless love in a deeply personal way. Like the Samaritan woman in the Gospel, I found myself eager to go out and share the joy of encountering Christ with everyone I met.
Looking back, I now recognize that although I was faithfully pursuing the path my parents had envisioned for me, God was quietly preparing my heart for a different vocation. He was calling me to a different kind of justice—one rooted not only in advocacy but in accompaniment. Instead of practicing law, He invited me to walk alongside young people through faith, education, and ministry, helping them encounter God's love and discover their own dignity and purpose.
“ God's call has a way of finding us through His infinite grace. ”
This calling ultimately led me to the Clough School of Theology and Ministry (CSTM), where my vocation has been wholeheartedly affirmed and nurtured. The diverse and welcoming community at CSTM has allowed me to grow alongside fellow pastoral leaders who share a similar passion for serving the Church. My professors have profoundly shaped both my intellectual and spiritual formation, especially Professor Hosffman Ospino, Professor Neto Valiente, and Assistant Director of Spiritual Formation, Crista Mahoney, whose commitment to fostering faith, community, and belonging has left a lasting impact on me. I am especially grateful to Crista Mahoney for encouraging me and others to bring our praise and worship ministry to Boston College, creating opportunities for our gifts to enrich the campus community.
My vocational journey has taught me that no matter how carefully we plan our lives or how certain we are of our ambitions, God's call has a way of finding us through His infinite grace. What I once perceived as a change in direction, I now recognize as an act of divine providence. God did not discard my desire to serve others; rather, He transformed it. Instead of advocating for people solely through the law, He called me to accompany them spiritually, helping them discover their identity, dignity, and purpose in Christ. In doing so, I have found a vocation that not only honors my family's legacy of sacrifice and perseverance but also fulfills the deeper calling God had been preparing for me all along.
