How Paul found purpose, despite facing tragedy
Originally published in January 2014 and edited for clarity in December 2021. Paul studied Flight Operations & Aviation Management at the University of Dubuque
My sister and I were very fortunate and believe it was the grace of God that led us to Sarai and MAPS. My mother attended 24 Fitness and was connected with Sarai who was a gym trainer. At first my mother forced my to try MAPS out, but soon after I realized it was not like any other strict hagwons. Sarai actually helped us out personally—not just with academics but with much more.
[She gave] advice and support that I would have never received—nothing money can buy. I had personal meetings with Sarai, attended her ACT classes which I got a 25 in, and also attended her camp. I’m not just saying this to praise Sarai in a false manner but everything she laid out in front of me was worth it. I hated going to her sessions and hated whenever she proposed activities to my parents, but I have no regrets whatsoever. Everything with MAPS has been a resource in my life.
Well first off, if it was not for Sarai I would not have ever known [University of Dubuque] existed. I remember Sarai giving me this huge book with colleges and had me research schools that fit me the best. Fortunately I came across the school that was a perfect fit for me.
Sarai is more than a mentor to me, she’s family. I say this not only because I have known her for so long but because the way she progresses her work is nothing but perfection and she made me feel comfortable to tell her anything and everything, and the response I got from her was exactly what I needed. She made sure that I was putting in the work in whatever objective I had to complete.
My mother had cancer and Sarai was there when it all happened, when it was tough. I always knew I could email Sarai and hear from her a message of relief. Life was tough and I remember when my mother passed away. I met Sarai at a coffee bean in Cerritos and she was such an encouragement, [helping me] to set aside all my problems and achieve greatness, because she knew I could.
She was and still is extremely supportive in my religious life. To keep up with religion after such a devastating event was nearly impossible for me, but with family beside me, I was able to keep a slim faith. I was honestly going to attend a community college and figure things out when it was time to transfer. It was just the easiest way out for me. However, Sarai knew what I wanted and supported me through the applications, essays, and etc.
Again she never laid out things to make my life easier but had me do everything from start to finish. MAPS has encouraged me to become a role model, someone who could encourage other students. Not by noticeable acts but by getting good grades and just keeping a positive vibe all around. I was nervous because the first time I had anything related to MAPS was meeting Sarai. I had heard so much about her from my mother and to know that all the positive things told by my mother was true, it honestly was unreal. Everybody around me seemed to have the same route: go to SAT school and overload yourself with work. That was not how Sarai ran things.
I am extremely confident in myself. Insecurity was a pretty big problem so I stayed quiet in the crowd but once I was interacting with MAPS I got a sense of confidence in myself. Getting involved was no biggie and meeting new people was what I loved to do. The life I live now is nothing similar to what I was living in the past. Everything I learned from MAPS has become a part of my life, so much that it has just become a daily testament in my life and I really do not feel a huge difference because the change that came in life was so smooth. I never really had to overthink anything. It was either I did it or not, and I’m glad I did. Everything about MAPS is an advantage, to skip out on such a valuable asset that could be part of your life would be a regretful thing to do. You just won’t know until you get involved.