This week, I wanted to highlight two incredible people who deserve recognition.
I was able to interview two individuals through asking them a series of personal questions. All too often, we overlook others’ stories in the stress and business of school. In the midst of it all, I sat down with both Kate and Levi and got to hear their stories.
Kate Seaton is a junior social work and honors humanities major. She is someone who is a blessing to whomever she interacts with and brings a spirit of kindness and humility into every space she enters. From our conversation, I witnessed joy embodied in her every action!
Where are you from, and how does that affect who you are?
I’m from Kentwood, Michigan, a suburb right outside of Grand Rapids, which is Michigan’s second largest city. I absolutely love my home. Kentwood is the most ethnically diverse city in West Michigan, and my high school is the 7th most diverse high school in the nation. Growing up in a city where most of my friends had different cultural backgrounds, religious upbringings, and first languages from me is a gift that I am so grateful for. I learned at a very young age what genuine diversity and the celebration of cultures looks like and how much this glorifies God. This is also why I want to go into a profession where empathy and a love for people are the foundation.
What or who brings the most meaning to your life?
As I’ve matured in my faith, I’ve learned how present Jesus is in our everyday lives. This reminds me to do the same for the people around me so that God can work through me daily. Knowing Jesus is finding wonder in the ways that He provides joy in the mundane moments. This can be deep friendship, a beautiful sunset, special conversations, a meal with community, dancing and having fun!
What is your favorite part about yourself?
I think my favorite part about myself is my love for people and relationships. God has definitely given me a deep appreciation for his children and I hope that shines through everything I do. I think that learning other peoples’ stories and getting to be in a relationship with them as those stories continue to be written is such an honor. Nothing makes me happier than spending time with friends and meeting new people. Each person you’ll meet is literally made in the image of God, and being in relationship with them means that a unique aspect of God is revealed to you through them — that’s incredible!
What’s the best advice you have ever received?
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received was actually from one of my professors at APU! Over a Zoom open house for APU, my professor said something like this: ‘Sometimes all you need to do is walk through the door that you think God has opened, and trust that if He has other plans, he won’t hesitate to redirect you.’ This advice has brought me a lot of peace and challenged me to rely on God in deeper ways than I did before when making big decisions about my life.
What Is your biggest dream in life?
My biggest dream in life is to change the world in whatever capacity God has made me to. Professionally, this looks like serving others through whatever social work career path I choose. I want God to use my vocational skills to help develop communities, remove people from the margins and remind every client that they have worth and deserve dignity. Personally, I want to spend my life being a person who treats people like Jesus would.
Photo courtesy of Kate Seaton
I was also able to sit down with Levi as well. Levi Ramirez is a junior accounting major. Levi is one of the kindest people I have ever met — it is the first thing I noticed about him. He is such a humble man of God in every circumstance.
Where are you from, and how does that affect who you are?
I am from El Salvador. It affects my identity a lot. Being from El Salvador has to do a lot with who I am and who I want to become. A lot of my essence as a person comes from my culture and the practices I am used to from my country. I would say that my culture has shaped my identity a lot. In my culture, it can be as simple as paying for my friend’s meals when we go out or just saying good morning to people when walking to school. Those are things I’ve seen in a lot of people back home and my parents as well, and I feel comfortable with it. I was also thinking that there’s a negative aspect to having my culture be so influential in my personality, and it is that sometimes we tend to be a bit judgmental, which is not okay. Judging people is really normal and socially acceptable in El Salvador.
What or who brings the most meaning to your life?
God brings the most meaning to my life. If I did not have God, I do not know what it would be in my life. He is the main reason why I did whatever I do. To glorify and honor Him with my actions is my main goal.
What is your favorite part about yourself?
This is a hard question since I struggle a lot when it comes to loving myself. I believe, though, that my favorite part about myself is that I am patient. Sometimes I am too patient and it can be a shortcoming.
What’s the best advice you have ever received?
The best advice I have ever received came from my mom and it was to love and glorify God in everything I do. If I do so then I can love people the right way, I can be in community and I can trust God.
What is your biggest dream in life?
My biggest dream in life is to have a family of my own and be the best dad and husband I can be for my family.
Photo courtesy of Levi Ramirez