Ally Quadros

Westmont College
Senior Seminar
4/20/16

Choosing to transfer to Westmont has been one of the best decisions of my life. My time
here has been one of abounding joy and remarkable growth. Looking back on when I began the
kinesiology program at Westmont, I reflected on the mission statement I crafted in Foundations. I
had hoped to cultivate a spirit of gratitude and compassion toward others during my time at
Westmont. My goal was to develop a habit of serving others so that I would instinctively seek
out opportunities to serve. I also hoped to foster a spirit of peace, so as to minimize anxiety about
graduation and my future. This includes trusting that God has a plan and purpose for my life, as
well as becoming more proactive when making decisions about my future, as opposed to
becoming immobilized by the fear of making a mistake.
Reflecting on this mission statement, I feel that I have done very well in terms of serving
others. I have attended Potters Clay twice and begun volunteering weekly at Santa Barbara
Cottage Hospital. Most importantly, I have developed a greater awareness of how I can serve my
friends, classmates, and roommates on a daily basis. Through this, I have discovered that I feel
more engaged in community and less apathetic about life in general. Overall, I feel that I am
preparing to graduate Westmont with confidence in both the skills that I have developed and in
my ability to achieve my goals for the future.
As I prepare to enter a new chapter of my life, and I have taken strides in my goal to care
for others, my new mission statement centers around a commitment to take better care of myself.
I have found that I have a tendency to be too hard on myself. I have become acutely aware,
recently, of my internal self-talk and the pressure and expectations that I am putting on myself. I
hope be more positive and focus on my successes rather than my struggles. I hope to learn from
my failures and then move past them, refusing to let them define me. In addition to working on
my mental and emotional health, I also hope to focus on improving my physical health. Although

I will soon be attending graduate school and working, I plan to make time for exercise and
cooking healthy meals no matter how busy my schedule becomes. I am excited to enter this next
stage of my life, remembering that its critical that I prioritize caring for myself before I attempt
to care for others.
Opportunities, such as being able to take the time to craft this personal mission statement
and consider my emotional well being, are some of the aspects that I have loved most about
attending Westmont. Before I transferred to Westmont, I attended a large research university
where my focus was largely on science classes. However, I realized that I wanted to broaden my
horizons and receive a more holistic and well-rounded education, rather than simply an
occupational-focused one. This cannot be achieved anywhere to the same extent as it can at a
liberal arts college.
As a result of this interdisciplinary education, I am becoming a more global citizen. I
have been able to delve deeper into topics that are relevant in modern day society, such as
racism, imperialism, the wage gap, and gender discrimination. In fact, classes that I have taken
outside of my major, that have dealt with these issues, have been some of my favorite. Increased
knowledge about these topics has furthered my desire for equality and justice. I have developed
values, passions, and beliefs that I may not have otherwise realized had I not attended a liberal
arts college. I have also begun to discover ways in which I can approach these issues in the
contemporary global world, both as a student and as a future medical professional.
My liberal arts education has helped me develop a wide range of skills that will assist me
in becoming the best person and nurse practitioner that I can be. In most careers, and medicine in
particular, it is important to have excellent interpersonal skills, as I will constantly be interacting
with patients, their families, and fellow healthcare professionals. This liberal arts education has

helped me to develop my ability to work well with a wide range of people, both through
communication and tolerance.
In addition, I have always had a passion for serving others. During my time at Westmont,
I have come to learn how integral helping the less fortunate is to my identity. I hope to continue
to learn new ways to serve others and take this skill into my future career. Finally, a liberal arts
education has helped me to foster valuable critical thinking skills. In her book, Cultivating
Humanity, Martha Nussbaum (1998) emphasizes the importance of cultivating a capacity for
self-criticism and critical thought. I believe that this ability will allow me to be a more effective
employee and a more intelligent and well-rounded person.
Attending a liberal arts school has allowed me to take a variety of classes outside of my
major, such as Spanish. My goal of becoming proficient in Spanish is related to my desired
career path, particularly in the part of the world that I live. As a nurse practitioner, fluency in
Spanish would be especially useful in communicating with and relating to a greater number of
patients. With the large Hispanic population in California, this is a skill that will most certainly
be useful on a daily basis. I have seen the necessity of speaking a second language during
internships at hospitals in both Santa Barbara and the Bay Area. Being able to relate to my fellow
citizens in California will help me to provide better care to patients.
Another liberal arts course that has greatly changed my outlook is Perspectives on World
History with Professor Robins. This class encouraged me to consider my multifaceted identity, as
a student, a woman, a prospective medical professional, and both an American and global citizen.
I read a number of books and articles in Professor Robins class that have shaped my view of the
value of liberal arts education. Nussbaums Cultivating Humanity (1998), Cornelius
Plantingas Engaging God's World: A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living, (2002)

and Sheryl Sandberg and Neil Scovells Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead (2013)
have all ignited interests in me that may not have otherwise been realized.
I have also been meaningfully impacted by the course World Literature with Professor
Hess, a class outside the kinesiology major that I took to fulfill GE requirements. I was not
expecting to enjoy this class as much as I did. I was engaged in every novel we read and was
intrigued by the theme of colonialism that was the basis of the course. One book that I found
particularly interesting was Weep Not, Child by Ngg wa Thiongo (1964). This book has
forced me to confront the serious issues presented by English language privilege. While white
privilege is a regular topic of conversation, English language privilege is rarely mentioned in
contemporary society. It does, in many cases, seem practical to have a universal language.
However, I had not previously realized that this results in the death of a number of unique and
marvelous languages. As Ngg illustrates extensively, this loss of language includes in itself a
loss of culture, as well (1964).
Ngg (1964), as well as a number of other authors that our class read over the course of
the semester, have truly demonstrated to me the value of a world rich in a variety of dialects. It
was upsetting to learn that English, my own native language, was used as a tool for subjugation
during colonialism. The ways in which language and culture are intimately connected are
fascinating to observe. In learning about language through these readings, I was continuously
reminded of the relationship between English-speakers and Spanish-speakers in modern day
America. It seems that, as Americans, our arrogance expects people to speak English, while we
make no efforts to communicate by any other language. Instead of bemoaning that immigrants
should learn English before coming to the United States, perhaps we should be affirming the
legitimacy of their own native language. We should recognize that Hispanics make up an

increasingly significant portion of the American population and as such, we should regard it as
our responsibility to be able to communicate with them. As I mentioned earlier, as someone who
aspires to have a career in the healthcare field, it is essential that I attempt to learn to
communicate with as many patients as I can. These are just a few examples of the knowledge
and growth that I have acquired through classes outside of my major as a benefit of a liberal arts
education.
In addition to my academic growth and the knowledge that I have gained from my liberal
arts classes, I have also engaged in personal growth during my time at Westmont. In the past, I
have had a tendency to be quiet and shy in situations that I do not feel entirely comfortable. This
becomes particularly prevalent when I am engaging with people I dont know well and in public
speaking settings. However, through daily one on one interactions with professors and public
speaking opportunities in almost every class Ive taken at Westmont, I have grown to develop
these skills and now feel much more comfortable when engaging with others. A significant
success in this area occurred just a few days ago, when I received feedback on a presentation that
I had given in class. In the past, I had avoided making eye contact with the audience and instead
read off my paper, because I allowed my nerves to overwhelm me. However, I worked on
improving this skill and during this particular presentation, my professor commented that
maintaining eye contact was one of my greatest strengths.
I have also experienced spiritual growth during my time at Westmont. Through weekly
chapel attendance and Capax dei small groups, I have developed spiritual practices that have
been instrumental to my growth as a college student. Recently, I have been reading C. S. Lewis
Mere Christianity (1952). This book has provided insight that has been fundamental to me over
the last few months. I was encouraged by Lewis discussion of forgiveness. This is an area that I

have struggled with, particularly in terms of forgiving myself. Lewis says, perhaps it makes it
[forgiveness] easier if we remember that that is how He loves us. Not for any nice, attractive
qualities we think we have, but just because we are the things called selves (p. 70). This
affirmation that I am loved by God regardless of the mistakes Ive made has been essential to my
growth.
Another area in which I have experienced growth is in my perspective on issues such as
character, social justice, and personal wellness. My perspective on character has been altered
significantly since I first came to Westmont. I now believe that character is not simply comprised
of choices made and actions taken, but is rather who a person is at their core. These include
strengths and weaknesses, as well as the virtues that are pursued. Some of the virtues that I have
learned during my time at Westmont and am continuing to develop are discipline, patience,
empathy, and stewardship. I hope to use these virtues to serve God and the world throughout my
life. I also hope to become a person who remains faithful to who God has created me to be.
A way in which I hope to become a more faithful person, develop empathy, and promote
equality is by celebrating diversity and loving all people regardless of any differences between
us. I believe that forsaking diversity and trying to make the world homogenous does a great
disservice not just to others, but to ourselves as well. As both students and Christians, we cannot
be effective if we are only serving those people who are similar to ourselves. I also hope to
develop empathy for others by recognizing that I cannot fully understand their experiences
unless I put myself in their shoes. This ability is what Nussbaum (1998) calls the narrative
imagination. She quotes Tagore, who says, We may become powerful by knowledge, but we
attain fullness by sympathy (Nussbaum, p. 95). I have found this to be true in my life. As both a

Christian and a world citizen, I hope to be able to engage respectfully with both groups and
individuals who are different from myself.
Another aspect of character that I have discovered while at Westmont is growing to know
my true self, discovering my strengths, and respecting my weaknesses. Parker Palmer discusses
this concept extensively in his book, Let Your Life Speak (2000). Palmer paints a picture of
what can happen if someone were to exceed his or her limits, even if it is to do something good.
He says, The fact that I am exceeding my limits will eventually have consequences. I will
distort myself, the other, and our relationshipand may end up doing more damage than if I had
never set out to do this particular good (Palmer, p. 47). God purposely created us exactly the
way we are. In order to honor his creation, we must respect both our abilities and our limits. God
did not create everyone to be able to do everything, but rather he gave specific skills to certain
people, so that we would be more inclined to live in community with one another.
I have also learned about character through biblical teachings, such as the Parable of the
Good Samaritan. In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a man who was robbed, beaten and left
for dead. A priest and a Levite saw the man lying in the road and passed by him. Then, a
Samaritan came to help the man and take care of him. Upon finishing the story, Jesus asks,
which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of
robbers? The expert in the law replied, The one who had mercy on him. Jesus told him, Go
and do likewise (Luke 10:35-37, New International Version). The parable of the Good
Samaritan applies to my life both as a Christian and as a future health care practitioner. In fact, I
initially became interested in health care because of my compassion for others and my desire to
serve the members of my community that are in need. When we treat each other with love and
compassion, we are living life the way that God intended and we are following the example that

Jesus set for us.

This concept is closely related to social justice, a topic that is very important to me. I
have developed a passion for social justice through serving underserved populations on a number
of medical service trips to Mexico and Central America. I mentioned earlier that I was on the
medical/dental team on Potters Clay, in which I helped set up free clinics and was able to
shadow and assist a pediatrician, OB/GYN, family practice physician, optometrist, and dentist. It
was a joy and a privilege to interact with and treat this unique and diverse type of population.
This was only the beginning of my interest in social justice. I feel strongly that each and every
person is entitled to equal medical treatment and I hope to continue my involvement with
medicine in developing countries throughout my career.
An organization that has been incredibly impactful to me, as it combines my passions for
social justice and medicine, is called Child Family Health International, or CFHI. This
organization is run by a woman named Jessica Evert, who spoke at a lecture that I attended at
Westmont last semester. She details the mission of CFHI in a scholarly article that she wrote
about global health. She says, CFHI structures its global health education programs through
integration of learners into existing health systems and cultural immersion in local communities,
facilitating an appreciation of the complexities underlying global health challenges and
sustainable solutions. CFHIs programs are predicated on ethical principles including reciprocity,
sustainability, humility, transparency, nonmaleficence, respect for persons, and social justice
(Evert, 2015, p. 63). I hope to become involved in this organization in an effort to bring justice to
underprivileged countries through medical care.
In addition to achieving equality in terms of medical care, I also hope to achieve equality
and social justice throughout other aspects of the world. An area in which the world is still far

from achieving equality is gender. In their book, Lean In, Sandberg and Scovell (2013) note
numerous inequalities within the workplace and strongly encourage women to fight for equal
opportunity and treatment. Women are paid less than men who hold similar positions. It is
estimated that women earn 79 cents to every dollar a man earns. Sandberg also notes that, of all
the industrialized nations in the world, the United States is the only one without a paid maternity
leave policy (p. 23). In order for women to achieve equal status with men, the government
needs to allocate more resources to womens education, as well as to reproductive services for
women. My liberal arts education has forced me to further consider this issue of gender
discrimination and contemplate ways in which I can rectify this.
While social justice is a topic that I find it easy to engage with, personal wellness is one
in which I need to devote more focus. I have learned, during my time at Westmont, that I often
spend so much time taking care of other people that I sometimes will neglect to take care of
myself. While at Westmont, I was introduced to the work of Bren Brown and I have been
greatly affected by her research. I recently read her book, Rising Strong, (2015) which
discusses the topic of vulnerability. Brown describes vulnerability as the willingness to allow
ourselves to be seen with no guarantee of the outcome. I have consistently struggled with being
vulnerable with others throughout my life. While at Westmont, I have endeavored to engage in
practices that build new muscles targeted toward vulnerability. Browns research has found that
vulnerability is the only way to find more love, joy, and belonging. I have certainly experienced
struggles in my life and I will certainly have many more. During these times, I hope to rise
strong, as Brown suggests, and engage in community in order to persevere (Brown, 2015).
Jerry Sittsers The Will of God as a Way of Life (2013) has also changed my
perspective on personal wellness. Sittser discusses attending to the little things in life. I am

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typically a big picture thinker and I have often found myself skipping small steps as I try to attain
my overall goals. By skipping steps, I have found myself in situations that I was not prepared for
and did not know how to handle. At Westmont, I have learned to take Sittsers advice and focus
on the ordinary, daily things in life. Sittser also asserts that simple commitments of everyday life
lay a foundation for what is to come in the future. If we are diligent and faithful now, we will
have a greater capacity to do Gods will in the future. Once I made these realizations and I began
taking the small steps, I began moving forward again.
Finally, Sittser encourages establishing a balance in life. During this hectic time of
graduation and thinking about the next steps, balance has sometimes felt elusive. Sittser says
that, balance means establishing proper priorities, choosing to do what is most important rather
than what is most urgent, and organizing our lives around our central commitments (p. 194).
This is advice that has positively contributed to my personal wellness and that will be useful to
me throughout my life (Sittser, 2013).
I am glad that Westmont has provided a solid foundation for me in terms of my
perspective on the topics of character, social justice, and personal wellness. I will need a solid
understanding of these topics throughout my life, and particularly in my vocation. Frederick
Buechner defines vocation as, the place where your deep gladness meets the worlds deep need
(as cited in Palmer, 2000, p. 16). While it is not always easy to find the intersection where ones
personal passions fill a void in the world, it is incredibly rewarding. This is not a journey that has
to be taken alone, but rather should be done in relationship with God. To find ones vocation,
Duane Grobman, who gave a chapel talk at Westmont in 2005, suggests listening to God in order
to determine ones function, and then finding a career that best fits that function. In her article,
Called Through Relationship, Elizabeth Newman (2004) suggests engaging in spiritual

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practices that will help reveal Gods calling for our lives. Regardless of the specific steps taken
to discern ones calling, it is important to remember that vocation is a gift from God and should
be used to bring glory to him and his creation.
When searching for ones vocation, Grobman (2005) warns not to get preoccupied with
form, but rather to focus on function. He encourages people, not to be limited by form, but to be
propelled by function (Grobman). During my study of vocation at Westmont, I have come to
understand that vocation does not refer to choosing a career that makes the most money or
provides a certain desired lifestyle. Rather, we must discern the gifts that we have been given by
God and recognize the talents that we have developed through various life experiences. In
addition to finding a vocation that fits our God-given gifts, we should discover a vocation that
ignites our passion and bring us immense joy. Newman (2004) quotes Teresa of Avila, who says,
the Lord does not look so much at the magnitude of anything we do as at the love with which
we do it (p. 23). God is not concerned with whether or not we become successful, famous, and
wealthy, but rather with how much joy we bring to others and to ourselves.
Vocation is often thought of as being personal and individualized. We think that vocation
refers to the ways in which we choose to live our own lives and therefore it must relate only to
us. However, this is not true and it is not the intended purpose of vocation. Newman (2004) says
that, our vocation is not ultimately about us as individuals but about what God is accomplishing
in the world in and through a whole people (p. 23). When we are considering our own vocation,
it is important to think about how it will fit in with the vocations of others and in what way it will
fill a need in the world. Grobman (2005) also discusses this concept. He says that we are called
to the mission of working as co-redeemers with Christ. Therefore, we should consider the ways

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in which our vocation can function to redeem our fallen and broken world. It is important to
remember that our individual vocation plays a part in Gods larger plan for the world.
I have discovered my vocation as a result of many discussions that I have had at
Westmont. After much reflection, I feel called to function as a servant to others. I feel especially
called to live out this role in moments in peoples lives that are particularly difficult. Throughout
my life, I have always found immense joy in serving others. Through a variety of community
service work and personal experiences, I have felt led to live out my function through a career in
medicine. I hope to eventually become a pediatric nurse practitioner. This is a career that will
allow me to provide physical healing, while also offering support during a time that may be
stressful or otherwise emotionally straining.
I believe that my God-given gifts include patience and empathy, two qualities that have
always come relatively naturally to me. These gifts will greatly serve me in the role of a nurse
practitioner. In this career, it is important to exercise patience and understanding, realizing that it
is my duty to serve the patients and help them in any way possible. It is also crucial to be very
compassionate, as I will often be seeing people on incredibly difficult days in their lives.
My professional objectives involve working with a variety of populations. First, I hope to
gain experience working with pediatric patients. Second, I would like to travel to
underdeveloped countries and interact with underprivileged populations. Finally, I hope to
become involved in public health measures that benefit entire communities rather than specific
patients. My ideal working environment is in a doctors office as pediatric nurse practitioner.
While I hope to work in a variety of different environments throughout my career, such as in a
hospital setting and in other countries, I eventually hope to have a stable job with flexible hours.
My ideal professional working setting would allow me to have a family, as well, and devote

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enough time to both my family and my career. Another aspect of working in a doctors office that
is appealing to me is that I will be able to see the same patients over and over again and build
lasting relationships with them. Working in pediatrics, I will even be able to watch my patients
grow up, from infants to young adults.
As medical professionals, it is so important to be caring and compassionate towards
patients and their families. A significant part of caring for patients is taking the time to pray for
them. Also, it can be frustrating at times to deal with difficult or irritable patients. At these times,
it is important to remember that every patient is a child of God and is loved by him. As such, we
must practice love, compassion, and understanding towards every person. By showing kindness
and respect to patients, I am exposing them to Jesus particularly when they may need him the
most. In addition, God calls us to be joyful always, in every situation. Working in a hospital,
there are times when situations can seem bleak or stressful and it can be difficult to be joyful.
During times like these, I am able to lean on my faith and find joy.
Writing this paper has been a valuable experience for me as I prepare to graduate from
Westmont. With each opportunity I am given to reflect on my time here, I become increasingly
more affirmed in my decision to attend Westmont. I feel overcome with gratitude as I consider
all the experiences that I would have missed out on had I attended a larger and more impersonal
university. From conversations with professors and classmates, to campus events and programs, I
feel that I have gotten some form of benefit from every interaction Ive had. Through the
opportunity to write this paper, I find myself achieving clarity about my strengths as well as the
next steps for my life. I know that the lessons and skills that I have learned at Westmont will
guide me for years to come and I hope that they will allow me to be a guiding force for others, as
well.

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References
Brown, B. (2015). Rising strong.
Evert, J. (2015). Teaching Corner: Child Family Health International. Journal Of Bioethical
Inquiry, 12(1), 63-67.
Grobman, D. (2005). Retrieved from http://webapps.westmont.edu/cgibin/WebObjects/
offices.woa/3/wo/JTpwe4U5WlNDite 8uHaDg/3.0.4.1.10.5.7.1.
Lewis, C. S. (1952). Mere Christianity. New York: Macmillan.
Newman, E. (2004). Called through relationship. The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor
University, 20-28.
Ngg, . T. (1964). Weep not, child. London: Heinemann Educational Books.
Nussbaum, M. C. (1998). Cultivating Humanity. Liberal Education, 84(2), 38.
Palmer, P. J. (2000). Let your life speak: Listening for the voice of vocation. San Francisco:
Jossey-Bass.
Plantinga, C. (2002). Engaging God's world: A Christian vision of faith, learning, and living.
Grand Rapids, Michigan: W.B. Eerdmans.
Sandberg, S., & Scovell, N. (2013). Lean in: Women, work, and the will to lead.
Sittser, J. (2013). The will of God as a way of life: How to make every decision with peace and
confidence. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.

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