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 Rafael José Herrera Morales
Why did you choose Trent? At first, I chose Trent because of a personal connection I felt. The person who came to talk at the school where I studied in Costa Rica, Trevor Corkum, was very passionate about the Uiversity. He answered all of my questions, and had time to spare to talk to me one-on-one. I felt people at Trent were interested in me coming here. It felt like I was given importance and that I could really make a change at Trent, apart from developing a career. I also liked how consistent people at Trent were when I was applying. I do not remember the number of emails I wrote, but they were many. Each and every question was answered, and as funny as it may sound, it became so personal that I could just picture the people working at Trent, even though I was completely wrong about their physical appearance when I first met them. I am also proud of how Trent was able to understand the political and economic situation of my home country, Venezuela. When I applied, I felt the only thing that would get me to come to Trent would be my grades. They were good, but in comparison to the number of other students who apply, I was a bit scared. Still when I applied for my scholarship, I talked about the situation in Venezuela, and why I believed I had something new to offer to Trent. To my relief, they were aware of the political situation in Venezuela and had great interest in helping me develop my character and potential, so I could go back to Venezuela and make a change. How would you describe yourself? How would others describe you? What are your passions in life? I believe others would describe me as hardworking, passionate about life, funny, creative, honest, and adventurous. These are some of the characteristics my friends have used to describe me, and how I have tried to live. I am usually with a smile on my face, and able to approach most people. I might be shy at first, but always welcoming and smiling. My two biggest drives and passions are my family and country. They are the energy that keep me moving forward and for whom I fight. My family has always pushed me into discovering new places and cultures. They have encouraged me to live and fight for things, to be honest, to be true to myself, and to be clear on my goals. My country on the other hand, represents a past, a present, and a future for me. A past because I feel it has made me who I am now; I am proud of my culture and what I have to offer and teach to others. My present because I strive to be someone who will help it come out of its current situation, it is that latent cause which has me fighting and wanting to become a well-prepared human being. My future because I hope to go back there and feel I have made a change. Have you been involved in any clubs, groups, and/or sports at Trent? If so, which ones? In my second year at Trent, I was a don at Catherine Parr Traill College. In my third year I participated in an exchange program to l’École Supérieure des Sciences Commerciales D’Angers (ESSCA) in France. In my fourth year I helped organize a leadership retreat with iMPACT on cross culture communication. I have been part of groups like HOLA, TACSU, TISA, and iMPACT. I also performed at Cultural Outreach three out of my four years at Trent. What has your time at Trent meant to you? What are some of your favourite memories? What will you take with you from Trent? My time at Trent has meant forming and developing an identity. Here I don’t only represent my country or my continent, but also the international community at Trent. During my first year at Trent, I was impressed by many international students and the leadership roles they took on. I decided to follow their steps and be active. I decided to take on the torch, and continue a legacy of leadership, inter-cultural learning, and of support. Some of my favourite memories include my close friends. Amazing to think that from not liking spicy food, I have become a curry lover. Every year I participated in Cultural Outreach, and the stress of practicing a million times before the actual event. I will always remember walking in the TIP office and being known by my first name. The first time I visited Ottawa with a friend who invited me to have a typical Canadian Thanksgiving dinner with her family. Walking over the bridge and freezing for two seconds, unable to take the next step because of how strong and cold the wind was. Being in a country where I get to experience temperatures like -41°C, and also getting so used to the weather I would say it was warm outside when the temperature was -5°C and would wear shorts and a t-shirt. From Trent, I will keep that interest in appreciating our differences, wanting to learn more from other cultures, and fighting for what I believe. I will also take that willingness I learned from my professors of getting to know their students to a level where it might become a friendship. I have learned that if I want something to be changed, I need to bring the initiative and get it going. Last but not least, I would like to take my Excalibur spirit because I am proud of the University I graduated from. What are your future plans and aspirations? What do you hope to accomplish? Hard question, but I hope to be back in my country within five to ten years. I am planning on getting some job experience in the next couple of years, and to start making some money so I can finance a master’s degree in International Business. I hope to continue exploring new cultures, giving myself the chance to visit many of the friends I met at Trent. Among my accomplishments, I have thought of going back to my country and getting involved so as to make a change for its current situation. I want to continue fighting for what I believe is true and fair. I would still like to keep an open mind, so that I can have real judgement power. I feel there is no right answer for everything, but rather that some things fit better than others in given situations. I hope to continue learning from others, and finding the right cure for the social and political illness in my country. This cure would be specific to my nation, where I hope to target everyone’s needs. As challenging as it may sound, I feel that in order to accomplish this, a real sense of belonging needs to be promoted. I feel that in order to make a change, everyone needs to feel involved in the process and immersed with this ideal of change - everyone having a common goal.
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Caracas, Venezuela