Aaron Reyes
Spring
2025
Parent's First Campus Visit
Having my parents first campus visit being at the end of my third year was such an emotional, and surreal moment. As a first-generation student, my life at UW had often felt like navigating a completely separate world from home. For three years they only knew my college experience through phone calls and storied when I came home. Seeing the pride in their eyes as they looked around campus and realized what they helped make possible. It was a beautiful reminder that even though I’m the one getting the degree, this journey is a collective journey, and having them finally see my reality helped make everything feel worth it.
Educating New Members
I had the privilege of being the new member educator for ODPhi which was a really great way to close out the year. Stepping into this role meant taking on a big responsibility because I was tasked with guiding these new members by helping them find their footing and teaching them the values of the fraternity. Watching their growth from day one was incredible, but getting the opportunity to become a big brother again was such a full-circle moment. After a long year of balancing academics and fraternity responsibilities, seeing the impact of my mentorship felt so successful. It helped remind me that the best way to honor the community that raised you is by pouring your heart into the next generation.
Volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club
This experience was an incredibly insightful learning experience, primarily because it gave me the clarity I desperately needed to define my future path. I was very excited to start this because it was the first time I had the opportunity to work with elementary students. The biggest takeaway from this experience was seeing how working with this specific age group may not be my forte. While it was challenging and at times overwhelming, I am deeply grateful for the experience because it helped me realize that I may work better with older students, where I can engage in deeper conversations and offer a different kind of mentorship. This opportunity proved how knowing where you don’t fit is just as important as knowing where you do, and it helped guide me toward the age group where I can make the most meaningful impact as an educator.
