Profile: Amalia Squire

Student profile: Lisa Lembo

The Dream of Many Latinos
by Paulina Garcia

A Part of My Life
by Yuko Kume

Minority Science and Technology Club
by Sia Plate

There have been many times during my years at Towson University that I have had to ask myself who am I ? Who is Amalia Squire ? I always find myself going back to my childhood and looking at how I had to grow up very quickly at age twelve, after the illness and subsequent death of my mother from a brain tumor. Her brave struggle to continue functioning to the end of her life has given me the courage to move forward and to try and be both a surrogate parent and a sister to my siblings. In a sense, my childhood was interrupted and never returned to normal.

If you were to ask me what do I remember most about my mother, I would have to say that one of the things I will keep with me always is her message to me about believing in myself. My mother was also very warm and compassionate. Whenever I find myself falling into the trap of feeling insecure or lacking confidence in the many gifts I have, I hear my mother’s voice saying “ you can do it, just believe in yourself.”

As a result of my earlier experiences, I came to college with an interest not only in the therapeutic value of art but also in my connection to the cultural heritage of my mother’s Hispanic and Indigenous roots. I have been very active in the Native American Student and Latin American Student organizations. When you lose something, it is possible to find your way by preserving important parts of your cultural heritage. I am so grateful for the connections I have made. Organizing campus wide activities for Earth Day not only helps highlight the contributions of the Native American culture but it also provides an opportunity for me to become more active in a broader social community.

The successes I have experienced at Towson would not have been possible without a long list of mentors and friends who have been with me every step of the way. Most recently when I was asked to pose for the cover of I Magazine, old feelings of self doubt about beauty surfaced. It did not take much for me to change my viewpoint and say yes. After becoming somewhat of a celebrity for a short period of time, I found that I liked the attention and was worthy of such attention. Guess my mother would be proud of me, I am saying more and more - Yes I Can ! This is the answer to the question, Who Am I ? I am a strong, caring, talented, creative, dedicated and beautiful woman !!!

STUDENT PROFILE
Lisa Lembo

This quote was part of the eulogy at my grandmother's funeral:

"Remember when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received - only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage."
---St. Francis of Assisi

This is a guiding principle that I would like to follow throughout my life. I honor my grandmother's life. As the first 'lay' woman to speak from the pulpit at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. and among the first women to be honored in the first edition of the Prince George's County Women of Achievement book, my grandmother's legacy is a tall order for studying my exams to take a friend to the emergency room, volunteering at the community nursing home, or as a Resident Assistant, receiving a poem my residents wrote, including the lines: "You are there for us to talk to when we are upset, or fix our computers so we don't have to fret!" I try to do for others before I do for myself---it's in performing the ordinary tasks that I find inspiration and motivation.

I want to be an advocate of doing what is right and not taking "no" for an answer. To give endlessly, without expecting anything in return---reward is the smiles on the faces of those I help. I love to make people smile and it is through my determination and sense of humor that I achieve this prize.

My leadership characteristics have been distinguished with various awards that only perpetuate my promise to step forward to lend a helping hand or offer my energy and ideas to a worthwhile project.

High School
*FitzGerald Scholar *National Honor Society *YMCA "Crystal Y" Award for Personal Achievement for Outstanding Leadership *Student Ambassador - went to conventions and talked with incoming high school freshmen about my high school and the high school experience as a whole. *Jr. Class President *Student Government Vice President *Fox Channel 5 News "Student with Character" - Principal and President of my high school nominated me and I was interviewed by Fox Channel 5 News *Bishop John McNamara Award for Faith, Leadership, Academics, and Community Involvement *Tutor

College
*Resident Assistant - 2nd year RA; in charge of 70 residents. Conduct programs to build community and lend a helping hand or listening ear, whether there is a problem, situation, or achievement with my residents. I have received Programmer of the Month Awards. Recently, I held a program in remembrance of 9/11. Over 200 students contributed to the wall of remembrance outside of the Glen Dining Hall, mad e key chains, and received buttons and information about the unforgettable day. *Student Ambassador - give tours of the campus, answer questions, and help with open houses and special events *Leadership Program Assistant - work for Jason Heiserman setting up leadership conferences and helping him with various projects. *Tiger Connection Manager - manager of the student marketers that contact prospective Towson students.

These positions and/or experiences have given me the opportunity to express my creativity in recommending actual improvements/solutions to existing situations or problems. Through these various positions, I have gained a sense of responsibility, emotional maturity, and self-confidence that helps me to strive to be enthusiastic and dedicated in an effort to achieve my goals and exert a positive influence on others.

We are entering a period in history where I am going to be called to step forward and use my gifts to the maximum extent. I will give my all and settle for no less.

In conclusion, my daily goals consist of being here for anyone with whom I come in contact. A motto I live by is "You never know the difference you make in one's life" There are so many people who have come into my life, as well as those whose lives I have entered. I want to leave the best impression possible? making a positive difference in the lives of those around me. While others may be on tough journeys, I must complete this task with pride and dignity, knowing I have offered my all and staying focused on the return on my investment - that the ones I've assisted will in turn, help others.

Through the talents I possess, it is most important that I use these gifts to elevate not only myself but also those around me. Through my genuine caring spirit, I attempt to make not only a difference in my immediate community, but a lasting effect to bring out the best in my peers. Leading by example with a smile on my face is what I do best. Most of the time, if I smile at someone, they will naturally smile back!

My family has raised me in a way I have grown to appreciate. I realize that I wouldn't change myself for anything. I am extremely lucky to have the loving family and caring friends that I do. These are the people who have molded me into the Lisa Lembo that you see walking around campus with a smile on her face, trying to make the world a better place!

The Dream of Many Latinos
by Paulina Garcia

It is hard to grow up in a region with lack of opportunities for young people who want to do something good for their country. Even though many third-world nations are rich in natural resources, they often lag behind developed countries in economical, social, technological, and political advances. Poverty is one of the biggest plagues facing Latin America, resulting, in part, from a high percentage of uneducated people. But an education does not guarantee financial security; graduate students with degrees in medicine and even engineering, are working as taxi drivers because there is no work for them in their fields.

The dream of most ambitious young Latinos is to travel one day to the United States of America. Once here, what do they find? Some are lucky and get hard work and a good education; the rest just get hard work and unfair pay. I am one of the lucky ones.

On June 1975, I was born in a South American country. I am lucky in being part of a wonderful family who has always supported my dreams and hopes. All of what I am today, and what I have accomplished, is because of them, because of the support and love they gave me.

Even as a child, I quickly noticed major injustices in my country, wrongs that my intuition told me I could not correct, unless I first left. Early in life, I decided that I would someday come to the United States, because I knew that only here would I have the opportunity to become a professional. Years later, I had earned my Bachelor's degree in business administration and had already completed successful fund-raising campaigns and worked in the government district of the capital city. At age 25, the opportunity arose to travel to the United States. I saw it as the chance to pursue my lifelong dream.

As soon as I arrived, I began applying to graduate schools around Maryland. Soon, an acceptance letter arrived from Towson University! I have realized that I can best help my people by becoming as successful as possible. Perhaps my success will help others begin to realize the value of education and take note of what a woman can achieve. My goal is not only to help overcome negative stereotypes about women in Latin America but to help overcome negative stereotypes about Latinos in the United States. As a proud Hispanic woman, I seek first to lead by example and then to lead by occupying a professional position.

Someone once said that in order to be great, one must first be a servant. In my case, my ultimate goal is to serve but I find I must first become great in the contributions I make not only as a woman but also as a Latino woman.

A Part of My Life
by Yuko Kume

I was born in the northern part of Japan in 1970. My hometown is called Sapporo, which is the fifth or sixth largest city in Japan. As most of the high school students there, I had dreams and hopes. However, those dreams and hopes usually ended in marrying the 'man of my life.' Soon, I started concluding that life was more than just a happy marriage. I felt that getting married without building my professional goals first would give me, later in the future, a feeling of frustration.

My mother was very good at putting limitations on me. She seemed to think that I had less potential than my brother. When it was time to decide what college I would attend, my mother named only three regional public universities for my choices out of hundreds of universities. It was my father who agreed that I should go to whatever colleges I wanted, including universities in the Tokyo area.

For the first time in my life, I met many ambitious men and women. They were instrumental in my changing into an enthusiastic, positive, and outgoing young woman.

However, the biggest mistake in my life was to think that, as my life changed, the surroundings in my hometown would change also. Going back home just let me realize that I was wrong. Somehow, I ended up taking a job I did not like. Soon the idea of studying again crossed my mind but my mother said she did not want me staying home without a job, without any plan for marriage. She was not sure about me studying again. I started working again, thinking that I could still pursue my dream; however, I was transferred to the far eastern part of Japan where I could hardly gain access to new activities. As I went far away from the central part of Japan, so did my dream.

It was interesting to see people's reaction, when I told them that I was accepted by Towson University and was going to the United States. Most of my female friends in Tokyo were not surprised but my female friends in Sapporo and at my workplace were surprised. Maybe it was the physical distance from the central part of Japan that made these women think different ways. Maybe it was the rural culture. Maybe it was education. One of my female friends at the rural workplace gave up becoming a rehabilitation clinician because she thought she was too old to start at the age of 27. Another female friend in Sapporo wanted to enter professional cooking school but decided not to go because she thought she was too old at the age of 23. I always wanted to tell them that they could do whatever they wanted, regardless of their age. At the same time, however, I knew that there was something about Japan's rural area that made them feel that way.

Now I am at the Department of Women's Studies at Towson University and I am learning about women. I want Japanese women to stop putting limitations on themselves. Many things that surround Japanese women are changing; however, I believe that most of them are still not pursuing their dream. What is it that discourages women around me, as well as myself, from turning our realities into dreams?

It is obvious that gender inequality was one of the factors. However, I am also interested in what is called the American Dream. I have learned that the American Dream is not attainable for everyone. The American Dream is more than just working hard and getting ahead. I believe that some societies do not encourage you to dream about yourself, much less envision attaining your goals. I know that there are many people in this country who cannot dream about a better future as well. However, there is still something about the American society that makes people believe the American Dream, while Japanese people, including men, do not necessarily see Japanese society in this way. Having the American Dream is better than not having it, even if it's not attainable for everyone. It makes a person happier to have a dream, whether she or he can attain it or not. I believe that many people from other countries come to this country just to have a dream or to keep dreaming about their dreams. It may be because a dream is something that many have had to give up on at an earlier stage of their life in many other countries.

Dream Deferred
by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

Minority Science and Technology Club
by Sia Plate

This is my third year as President of Towson's Minority Science and Technology Club and eighth year in the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBEE). I founded the Towson Chapter of NSBEE in 1999 with the assistance of Vice President Keisha Bownes. Ironically, I am a management major, which I think benefits the club. All of us have been involved in setting up and marketing this relatively new campus organization. I also have computer information systems coursework experience and have worked as a network technician for Towson University. I graduated from Western high School in Baltimore City, which is one of only a few all female public high schools in the country. At Western, it was expected that women would be leaders in all aspects of student life, including technical organizations. As a result, we had many opportunities to practice leadership, gain confidence, and increase our skills and knowledge.

One of my greatest goals for the Club and Towson NSBE is to create an environment where the members can grow, not only academically and professionally, but also spiritually and physically. There is a lot of fellowship with other organizations on campus as well as NSBE Chapters throughout Maryland, up and down the East Coast, and with national and international members. We recently hosted a multicultural event on campus with invited guests from the Bowie State University and the Naval Academy. We have participated in other functions with UMBC, UMCP, Morgan, and Johns Hopkins.

When I became President of the Minority Science Club in my sophomore year, we worked to merge it with NSBE. The club is a campus organization dedicated to increasing the participation of minorities in math, science and technical disciplines. NSBE is an international organization that places emphasis on increasing the number of culturally responsible Black engineers as well as professionals and managers in other technical fields and the sciences. It just made sense for these organizations to come together.

Embracing the joint missions of what was once separate groups, the newly formed organization welcomes members of all races. As a female leader, I am particularly aware of the importance of mentoring others. Towson NSBEE has mentorship agreements with Loch Raven High School in Baltimore County and Cold Stream Elementary School in Baltimore City. We are about to start working with Mervo High School in Baltimore City. In 2003 and beyond, the fifteen Towson Minority Science Club and Towson NSBEE members will be mentoring more than 120 students. It is a challenge, but it is fun.

The number of females in technical fields is growing. It is important for young people of every race and gender to believe in their ability to pursue their interests and achieve their goals. Look around campus and around the world and see that others are trying to pursue the same the things you aspire. Let's inspire other people to achieve their career goals and set a good example for others who want to achieve their dreams and goals too.