Mario Paez is a native of St. Paul, Minn. where his family still resides. St. Olaf was a minor part of his initial college search until he was challenged by one of his high school counselors. He began to pursue St. Olaf after he was told that he did not have the credentials to make it at such a presigious school.

With the help of PEP (Professional Exploration Program) and adequate financial aid, Paez succeeded in accomplishing his goal and the first step to his college education.

When asked about his first impression of St. Olaf, Paez said, "I was looking at transferring. I liked the fact that it was away from home and there were less distractions, but I had to get accustomed to the fact that there weren't many people of color and that it is such a small town."

Paez's break through this barrier came when he accepted these differences and decided to deal with what St. Olaf had to offer.

"I made a transition and made this place my world. I learned not to compare myself to others and to set my own standard."

Paez's world began to form when he got involved in some of the different organizations on campus and made friends in the process.

"I began to network with others who were going through similar experiences." With them, Paez acquired the desire to get involved and see St. Olaf from a different perspective.

As a sophomore, he was treasurer of Harambe. In his junior year, he gained responsibility and authority with his involvement in the Multicultural Executive Board as the Multicultural Student Senator.

"Our purpose was to bring together all cultures­­no separation with so few numbers. We also promoted unity and leadership among the multicultural students on campus.

Paez has also been in the In Roads program for the last three summers. It encourages young students of color to be professionals and offers a positive perspective of the corporate world.

Paez will be graduation in May with a degree in Economics with a concentration in Finance. He already has a job in the cities with the Chubb Group Insurance Company as an Executive Risk Underwriter (a job he acquired through In Roads). He plans to get an MBA from Harvard in the field of public policy and racial economic disparity.

When asked what kept him going, he responded, "I kept my faith as my foundation. Out of my struggle came the resource of God, who has been there for unconditional help and support." Through the St. Olaf experience, Baez has gotten in touch with his self-identity.

"Learning how to be sane and balanced here has helped me on the outside. I have learned to stand on common ground with those in my surroundings. Most importantly, pride in difference stands for power."

His advice for future students? "Keep focused; write down your goals; bring out the positives; look for the resources that are here; do not focus on the responsibilities; and finally, Christans, keep praying."

Paez is a role model for future college students. His current position and frame of mind was a process that took experience. He is an example of someone who has excluded the negative aspects that life can bring and focuses on the positive aspects while keeping God as his source. He took something unfamiliar to him and used it to mold himself into the person that he is today.