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Student Voices
Luis Ibarra
- Hometown: Shelton, WA
- Major: International Business
Why Western?
I loved the feeling of community on Western's campus. The students, professors, and administrators were very friendly and reminded me a lot of myself; it was a perfect fit.
Serving as a Role Model
I have always loved being a student and that is why I plan to continue on for another 4-5 years after graduating from Western. I owe everything I've achieved to my family and always strive to be a good role model to my younger siblings; they are the ones who give me the strength I need to work hard every day and they are the reason I will continue on the path to a career in business and law.
Set up for Success
My experience at Western has definitely been beyond my expectations. I would have never imagined myself doing so well in school and being involved in so many clubs. Western has made it easy for me to demonstrate my skills in all parts of my life—academic, leadership, and social.
Life-Changing Experience
One of my best academic experiences was during my freshman year when I took Introduction to Mass Media. The class was so great and Professor Pilgrim was one of the best professors I have ever encountered. He made the whole experience so valuable; I will never forget the things I learned in his classroom. To this day, I still see him around campus and make sure to thank him for his influence in my life.
A New Family
Being part of MEChA has been one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. Being Latino attending a university is not an easy task. We have very high family values, so leaving home was one of the hardest things I have ever done. MEChA has become my family and I always feel so welcomed by everyone in the group. Now that I'm the President, I try very hard to create an environment where everyone who visits us feels good about being there and wants to get involved in all the great projects we do—from our regional conference to the annual Low Rider Show that we have right in the middle of campus!
Life in Bellingham
Bellingham is one of the greatest cities I have ever lived in and I have lived all over. People here are so friendly and always willing to help. Bellingham has so much to offer. It is in the perfect location between two great cities—Vancouver, B.C. and Seattle—which allows us to enjoy great concerts, galleries, speakers, comedy shows, and many other benefits without all the traffic and noise of a big city.
Destination Law School
Law school has recently become of interest to me. I took a business law class as part of my international business curriculum and almost got a 100% as my final grade for the class. My professor spoke to me about his experiences as a lawyer and my possible success in the field which definitely sparked an interest. I later met with a couple of attorneys who also gave me advice on my future career choice and now I'm completely set on going to law school after I receive my MBA from WWU.