Education has been the most influential force in shaping my goals, values, and sense of direction. For me, education has never existed only within the walls of a classroom; it has been a process of self-discovery, resilience, and learning how to translate lived experience into purpose. Through my academic journey, I have gained not only technical knowledge, but also confidence, adaptability, and a clearer vision for the future I want to build for myself and for others. Growing up as a Filipino American navigating multiple cultural spaces, I often found myself balancing identities, expectations, and responsibilities. At times, this created uncertainty about where I belonged or how my voice fit into academic and professional environments. Education gave me the language to understand those experiences rather than feel fragmented by them. Courses in design, communication, and history helped me recognize that culture, identity, and storytelling are strengths rather than obstacles. Learning how visual communication shapes perception showed me that design can either reinforce exclusion or create access. This realization gave my education purpose and direction, transforming it from a requirement into a meaningful tool for advocacy and change. Discovering graphic design and UX/UI fundamentally shaped my academic and professional goals. As I progressed through my coursework, I learned that design is rooted in empathy and problem-solving. Research methods, usability testing, and accessibility standards emphasized that every design decision affects real people with diverse needs and experiences. This shifted my mindset from focusing primarily on aesthetics to prioritizing responsibility, clarity, and inclusion. Education helped me define the kind of designer I want to be: one who listens before acting, designs with intention, and centers people rather than trends. It clarified that my passion lies in creating work that serves communities, not just visual outcomes. My educational journey has also come with significant challenges. Balancing rigorous coursework with leadership roles and work responsibilities required discipline and constant self-advocacy. There were moments of burnout, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome, especially in spaces where I questioned whether my background or perspective truly belonged. As a first-generation college student, navigating higher education systems often felt overwhelming. Understanding professional expectations, learning how to network, and advocating for opportunities did not come naturally. However, these challenges became some of my greatest teachers. Education pushed me to develop resilience, time management skills, and confidence in my own voice. I learned that asking for help is not a weakness and that growth often happens during moments of discomfort. Beyond academics, leadership experiences tied to my education gave me a stronger sense of purpose and direction. Through involvement in student organizations and campus programming, I learned that education extends beyond coursework into community building and service. Planning events, leading teams, and creating welcoming spaces taught me that leadership is rooted in listening, collaboration, and accountability. These experiences showed me how intentional environments can foster belonging and meaningful dialogue. Education helped me understand that knowledge is most impactful when it is shared and used to uplift others rather than remain individual achievement. My studies also deepened my awareness of inequities within creative industries and society as a whole. Learning about accessibility, representation, and ethical design challenged me to think critically about who benefits from creative work and who is often excluded. I began to recognize my responsibility as a designer to question systems, challenge assumptions, and design with care. These lessons shaped my long-term goal to use my education for social impact. I want to work on projects that prioritize equity, cultural exchange, and community engagement rather than profit alone. Looking forward, I see my education as both a foundation and a responsibility. It has equipped me with the skills to build a future where creativity and compassion coexist. For myself, education has provided clarity, confidence, and direction in a field that is constantly evolving. For others, I hope to use what I have learned to mentor, advocate, and create opportunities that make creative and academic spaces more inclusive and accessible. Whether through inclusive design practices, community-centered storytelling, or leadership grounded in empathy, I aim to use my education to help build systems that support belonging and understanding. Ultimately, education has shaped not only what I want to do, but who I want to be. It has taught me that learning is lifelong, that challenges are catalysts for growth, and that knowledge gains its true value when it is used in service of others. By continuing to learn, listen, and lead with intention, I hope to use my education to create a better future—one grounded in empathy, equity, and shared opportunity.

I will use my unique talents as a designer, leader, and community builder to help foster a more empathetic and understanding global community by intentionally creating spaces, systems, and stories that center people and their lived experiences. As a graphic design student with a focus on branding, UX/UI, and visual communication, I understand that design is not simply about how something looks, but about how it makes people feel, interact, and belong. When design is thoughtful and inclusive, it can transcend language, cultural, and social barriers, allowing people from different backgrounds to connect through shared meaning and understanding. My perspective as a Filipino American has profoundly shaped how I approach my work and my role in communities. Growing up navigating multiple cultural identities taught me early on the importance of listening, adaptability, and empathy. I learned that understanding does not come from assumptions, but from curiosity and respect. These values guide my design process, which prioritizes research, accessibility, and collaboration. I strive to design with communities rather than for them, ensuring that the outcomes reflect authentic voices rather than a single dominant narrative. By centering lived experience and cultural context, my work aims to honor identity while creating inclusive solutions that feel welcoming to diverse audiences. In addition to my design practice, my leadership experiences have strengthened my ability to build meaningful connections between people. Through student organizations, event planning, and collaborative projects, I have learned how intentional spaces can encourage dialogue, vulnerability, and mutual respect. Whether coordinating teams, planning campus events, or managing creative initiatives, I focus on cultivating environments where individuals feel seen, valued, and empowered to contribute. I have witnessed firsthand how representation and thoughtful facilitation can transform spaces into places of belonging. When people feel comfortable sharing their perspectives, empathy grows naturally, and understanding becomes a shared responsibility rather than an abstract goal. I believe empathy is built through action, not just intention. That belief drives me to approach both design and leadership with care and accountability. In my work, accessibility is not an afterthought but a foundational principle. Designing for different abilities, identities, and experiences ensures that more people can participate fully and meaningfully. By creating accessible digital experiences, inclusive visual systems, and clear, human-centered communication, I aim to reduce barriers that often exclude marginalized communities from conversations that impact them. Looking toward the future, I hope to apply my skills to projects that prioritize social impact, cultural exchange, and equity on a broader scale. I am particularly interested in work that intersects design with education, advocacy, and community engagement. Through inclusive branding, community-centered storytelling, and ethical design practices, I want to help organizations communicate across cultures in ways that are respectful, human, and empowering. Design has the power to shape narratives, influence perception, and inspire action. When used responsibly, it can challenge stereotypes, amplify underrepresented voices, and encourage collective understanding. Ultimately, I see my role as a bridge-builder—someone who uses creativity, strategy, and empathy to connect people across differences. By combining my design skills with my commitment to community and inclusion, I hope to contribute to a global community that values compassion, celebrates diversity, and understands that empathy is not just a feeling, but a practice that must be continually nurtured.

Aloha, my name is Raysen Rulloda-Kim, and I am from Wahiawā, Hawai'i. I am a first-generation college student at Maryville University of Saint Louis pursuing a bachelor's degree in graphic design and a concentration in marketing. The interests I have within the Polynesian culture is that being from a small town in Hawai'i, all we care about is just giving aloha to is our community in Wahiawā. We as a small community town have that passion to just help others in need of assistance, whether it is the kūpuna or keiki. When I was in high school, I have volunteered for a non-profit media organization, 'Ōlelo community media. Where I participated in an after-school media program learning basic production and throughout the learning processes, we had a hands-on experience in the field by volunteering for events island-wide. The events were at places like Waimea valley, Liliʻuokalani church, Hawai'i state capitol and more places all over the island. As the media program and volunteering started to become a routine, I eventually got certified in basic production and got the opportunity to teach basic production to the youth in intermediate school. This made me become a better leader by utilizing our newfound skills to teach back to our community and create creative public service announcements and short documentaries that was entered in 'Ōlelo's youth video competition and broadcasted on their television networks. What does the term "Aloha Happens" mean to me? I believe it is the passion for helping people and giving back to any community, by either volunteering, teaching, or even just being an outstanding person that is willing to help with the kindness of their heart. I make this happen when I am back in Hawai'i but also when I am here in Saint Louis, Missouri. I make sure I have a diverse voice here at Maryville University and the broader Saint Louis region, I always make sure to spread the aloha spirit anywhere and wherever I go and just have the passion to include everyone. What I do currently at Maryville is that I am really involved in office of student involvement and try to connect them with the office of diversity and inclusion because they rarely collaborate with each other. So, I am trying to break the boundaries and change the culture to where both offices can work together in unison and understanding of one another. I am on the student involvement organization CONNECT, which is the committee on new and existing campus traditions. And given our name, I don't believe our organization connects well with diverse and inclusive organizations and I am starting to change that by giving aloha to everyone organization that needs help here and there by volunteering myself to help set-up and take down every event that happen. I want to create different relationships to network together and create one big, amazing event on our campus. So, what does "Aloha Happens" mean to me? It means we all have to stick together and become a diverse and inclusive voice within our community wherever we are by always giving back.