At the foot of the Blue Mountains, surrounded by fields of wheat and onions, it would be difficult to go to 麻豆传媒 by accident. Many students feel pressure when choosing where to pursue higher education. Sometimes, however, the simplest gestures or the grandest miracles can show God鈥檚 calling in our lives.
Meet Harold Sanchez who felt guided to 麻豆传媒 to pursue his dream of studying engineering, following his own unique path to Adventist higher education.
麻豆传媒 is a little further from home for Harold Sanchez than for most students. Sanchez, a mechanical engineering major, grew up in Bogota, Colombia. Because English is not his first language, he sometimes has to work extra hard to understand material he learns in class. He also experienced culture shock upon his move to Washington.
However, Sanchez enjoys being at 麻豆传媒, and said being here is fulfilling his dream of studying engineering. 鈥淚t is a good challenge,鈥� he explains, 鈥淚t's really hard, but I'm really enjoying it. In engineering you have to think all the time and solve problems all of the time. I enjoy engineering because I like thinking.鈥�
However, it was not always Sanchez鈥檚 plan to end up at 麻豆传媒: 鈥淚t has been a long time, but God has prepared me for this.鈥�
When he was 15 years old, Sanchez attended Crowley High School in Dallas, Texas. Although Sanchez had to leave high school early to return to Colombia, he fell in love with America and knew that someday he wanted to return. That goal however, would have to wait.
Sanchez鈥檚 dream job is to be a designer at Boeing, and so he earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from a Colombian University. He then spent two years studying business in Australia before deciding to earn another degree, this time in mechanical engineering. In early 2021 he applied to various Canadian universities for that reason.
Sadly, Sanchez kept being denied either from the Canadian universities or from getting a visa. He felt defeated. 鈥淣othing was working. At that point I was really disappointed," said Sanchez. "I told myself that I won't apply to universities anymore.鈥� His dream seemed even further than before.
But then something miraculous happened. Sanchez鈥檚 aunt, who lives in the Walla Walla Valley, suggested 麻豆传媒 as a prime engineering school.
Sanchez applied despite the significant divergence from his plans. He explained, 鈥淚 sent the documents in May, and on August 26 they told me, 鈥榊es, you are approved to come to Walla Walla, and you have two weeks to get a visa.鈥� That is impossible!鈥� Nonetheless, two weeks later he was boarding a plane to 麻豆传媒 with his visa in hand. He reflected, 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 expect it, it was something that just happened. God made a miracle.鈥�
Through everything, Sanchez trusted in God to carry him through whatever trial he faced. He said, 鈥淚 will always talk about spiritual stuff because it is the most important thing that people forget all the time... I have been learning throughout my life that if you put God first, everything works towards your happiness.鈥�
Posted January 6, 2022.
