Finding Purpose in the Unexpected: Embracing God's Plan

On May 2nd, I received a text from Kim Montenegro, Director of Religious and Spiritual Life, congratulating me about my nomination as one of the Baccalaureate ceremony speakers this year. When I read this, I thought three things: one, 'how did I get selected?'; two, 'why me?'; and three, 'how do I get myself out of this because I’m afraid of public speaking?' The next day, I received a message from a close friend saying, 'You have been selected as a speaker for the baccalaureate program, make sure to respond asap!' So as I was thinking of an excuse to decline this wonderful opportunity, God told me, 'go share your story.’

Today, it is with much excitement and joy that I share my story:

Hi! My name is Melany Alcazar. I’m a first-generation, transfer student, double majoring in Human Resources, and Marketing. At the age of 12, my family, consisting of my mom, sister, and myself, unexpectedly moved from Tijuana to San Diego seeking protection from domestic violence from my father. We went from having a house, food on the table, and traveling, to being homeless, living in shelters, and having to live undercover so my dad couldn’t find us. I remember feeling so lost and hopeless but so afraid of telling my mom everything I was feeling because she already had a lot going on with having to look for ways to pay for lawyers, put a roof over our heads, and food on the table. During these long 5 years, that consisted of constantly moving shelters, being afraid of being found by my dad, and a lot of courts,? I would always question God on why he was making my family go through this and why it had to be us.

Since I was little, my mom would always tell my sister and I, 'did you know I went to Harvard? If I did it, so can you.' At a young age, I didn't fully understand how college worked. It wasn't until I began understanding, that I asked to see her degree and she said, 'yeaaa…. About that…. I went to Harvard to have lunch in their cafe… I never said I attended. I told you the story to motivate you.' From such moments, an urge to pursue college and higher education ignited in me, and fueled by hope, it became a goal of mine to not just have lunch at the cafe, but to be the first in my family to graduate college. However, this seemed impossible when we moved to San Diego due to the lack of English and the culture shock I was facing.

I remember getting made fun of at school for saying 'jellow' instead of 'yellow' or saying 'can I go to the bathroom' instead of 'may I go use the restroom.' I remember sitting in class hopeless because I did not understand anything and because my head was too busy thinking of all the legal problems such as custodies and restraining orders that we were going through. I always compared myself to those around me, and I even felt like I didn’t belong in school.

With God’s guidance, I made it through middle school!

During my junior year of high school, my mom met her now husband, Jafet. As I kept losing faith and questioning God's path, Jafet always spoke to us about this amazing university that was in his home city, Stockton. As time passed, my family made plans to move to Stockton. Months after we moved, I took a tour of the University of the Pacific and I fell in love with it. This is where Gods plan began having a purpose.?

After high school, I was unsure of my academic plans and what career I wanted to pursue. However, one thing I was sure of was that my dream school was The University of the Pacific. Therefore, I decided to start this journey by attending San Joaquin Delta College for 2 years with the purpose of solidifying my career path and preparing myself financially.?

As things were slowly starting to fall into place, it was during my time at Delta College that I discovered UOP’s Community Involvement Program and applied for it. Therefore, as I graduated with a triple Associates degree in Business Administration and Management, Spanish Language and Literature, and Mathematics from Delta College, with Gods guidance I also received my acceptance to not only to UOP but also to CIP. Without CIP and God, I wouldn’t be here today and like a strong pillar, CIP held up my dream of attending UOP. CIP has allowed relief from financial burden from myself and my family, and has given me and many other first generation students opportunities to build long-lasting friendships and relationships within our Stockton community.

During my time at UOP, I've experienced moments that I will cherish forever. I've been fortunate to forge deep connections with incredible friends, inspiring professors I meet in the classroom and while conducting research, and supportive staff members. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to participate in Pacific’s Toastmasters program as the Vice President of Public Relations and become a Chasing Transfer Success Member. Therefore, these individuals and opportunities have played pivotal roles in shaping my character, guiding me through challenges, and encouraging me to grow in ways I never imagined. They've pushed me beyond my comfort zone, helping me discover strengths and capabilities I didn't know I possessed.

Moreover, my journey at UOP has extended beyond the classroom. Working as a Career Coach at Career Services has been an enriching experience. Over the course of a semester, I had screened and provided feedback on over 3,000 resume submissions, while also working with students from a variety of backgrounds, such as international students from India and China, along with majors such as Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Psychology, Education, and others. Therefore, it has allowed me to give back to the university's community by supporting fellow students in their career aspirations. Helping others navigate their professional path has been immensely rewarding and has reinforced my commitment to making a positive impact wherever I go.

As I neared graduation, this Spring 2024, I secured a 5 month Recruiting Internship at Tesla on their Mexico Recruiting Team. It is a full circle moment where now I have the opportunity to find and bring forth talent from my home country, one that I had to leave many years ago due to very difficult circumstances. When little Melany wondered why God changed our life so suddenly, I wish I could go back in time and tell her this is why!

Overall, my time at UOP has been transformative. It's not just about the knowledge gained from textbooks or lectures, but also about the relationships formed, the challenges overcome, and the opportunities seized. I am truly grateful for the invaluable experiences and growth that this university has provided me.

Today, I want to express my gratitude to God for the journey He has taken my family and I through. It hasn't been easy; it's been tough, and yes, it still is. But every twist and turn of our story has molded me into the person I am today.

As I stand before you, I'm reminded of a specific Bible verse that has been a source of comfort and strength for me: Jeremiah 29: 11 ‘'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

This verse serves as a constant reminder that even when we don't understand why things happen, God has a perfect plan for each of us. So, as we navigate through life's challenges, let us hold onto faith, knowing that God's guiding hand is always with us.

To the graduating class of 2024, congratulations, we made it! I know that each of us present has a story. So, as we embark on this new chapter of our lives, I want to leave you with this thought: your story is not your weakness or your obstacle; it's your strength because it is what makes you unique. Always remember that Gods plan always has a purpose.

-Mel