Being an international student may have posed early challenges for Pablo Teixeira when he arrived at Loyola Marymount University, but it didn’t prevent him from succeeding in the classroom and out of it.
Pablo, a senior engineering major from Montevideo, Uruguay, has earned academic honors while also keeping busy on campus with memberships in the Magis service organization, Alpha Sigma Nu honor society, Tau Beta Pi and the student chapter of American Society of Civil Engineers. As part of the Office for International Students and Scholars, he also served as an iMentor, which is a program designed to create a mutual learning opportunity for incoming undergraduate international students in their first year and current LMU students.
Due to his ambitious curriculum, interdisciplinary studies and the high record of academic performance, Pablo was recently named the 2015 Scholar of the Year, the most prestigious academic honor at LMU. He will be honored during Commencement on May 9.
As part of the ‘10 for 15‘ series, freshman Nathalie Rubin asked 10 questions to 10 seniors from the Class of 2015 who were involved in Student Affairs. Here’s what Pablo had to say about his experience as an international student at LMU, being an iMentor and being named Scholar of the Year.
Why did you choose to come to Loyola Marymount University?
I went to a Jesuit high school in Uruguay. It was connected to LMU and they encouraged me to apply. Then I got a scholarship from LMU, so I decided to come.
What made you get involved with iMentors?
I wanted to be more involved in the international student community. Also, when I came in as a freshman I got a lot of help from older international students, so I thought it’d be good to be able to do the same.
How has your involvement in iMentors affected your experience at LMU?
It allowed me to remember what I was like when I first came to LMU and to think about what has changed for me and what hasn’t.
What is your favorite memory from being an iMentor?
Working with a fun group of people. Also, getting to know my iMentees in person after emailing them a lot over the summer.
What does it mean to you to be named LMU’s Scholar of the Year as an international student?
It feels good to end my undergraduate career like this, especially because being given the chance to come to the U.S. to study was already a huge privilege in itself. I think international students have to face some challenges that American students don’t, but I was lucky because I always had plenty of support.
What is an important lesson you have learned as an international student at LMU?
I learned that I can do more things than I thought. Before college, moving to the U.S. on my own and learning to adapt seemed very difficult, but I got through it and now I’m more confident in myself.
What is something most people don’t know about being an international student that you’d like them to know?
That they shouldn’t be embarrassed if they don’t know anything about where we are from. I like it when I meet new people and they ask me a lot of questions about Uruguay. Even when they are very basic.
After you graduate, how will your experiences as an international student at LMU benefit you?
I think I learned a lot about adjusting to new situations. So that will be useful in the future.
Who at LMU has inspired you?
Denise, Chimin and Camile in the Office for International Students and Scholars are all inspiring because you can tell they care a lot about the students they work with.
What advice do you have for current and future international students at LMU?
Just do your best.
What will you miss the most about Loyola Marymount University?
Probably having good friends, good classmates, good professors and always having fun things to get involved in.
By Nathalie Rubin