BYU–Hawaii graduates say their leadership, personal growth and global opportunities has been shaped by extracurricular activities
BYU–Hawaii graduating students Milazel Araujo, McKay Orr and Niño Laurel, said their personal and academic success was accomplished beyond textbooks by taking on extracurricular activities. From leadership roles to hands-on experiences, involvement in various clubs, organizations and volunteer work, they said further engagement can offer invaluable skills and opportunities beyond the classroom.
Building leadership skills
Orr, a senior majoring in business management with an emphasis on marketing, supply chain and data analytics, said his participation in multiple clubs such as the Professional Accounting Society, economics, and dance has shaped his understanding of leadership. “As a participant, you can tell when an activity is poorly planned. But once you step into leadership roles, you learn the level of effort and care it takes to organize successful events,” Orr explained.
By actively participating in or leading campus clubs, students learn to navigate challenges, work with diverse groups of people and become problem-solvers–skills highly valued in any career, he said.
“Leadership isn’t about claiming authority but showing you can stay on top of things. By anticipating the needs of professors and classmates, you become a leader naturally, even without an official title. This idea of leadership, where you rise to the occasion, has shaped my perspective,” Orr said.
Araujo, a senior double majoring in intercultural peacebuilding and general psychology from the Philippines, said she has embraced leadership roles through mentoring youth in the Philippines and organizing initiatives in her community. “Through my majors, I found a love for NGOs—not just those connected to the government but also those that help people directly,” she shared. She also said her extracurricular experiences, such as conferences and youth leadership programs, have broadened her view of global issues and how to create real, impactful change.
Gaining practical experience
Extracurricular activities provide students with practical, hands-on experiences that academics alone cannot offer, Araujo said. “My involvement with a project in Kenya using technology to connect with and support distant communities demonstrates how extracurriculars can open doors to international collaboration and impact. Even though I’m in Hawaii, I was able to network and support communities even in distant areas,” she explained.
Orr also emphasized the distinction extracurriculars can make on a student’s resume. “At the end of the day, everyone will graduate with the same degree, but your extracurriculars and GPA are what set you apart,” he said. Whether it’s organizing events, participating in conferences or volunteering, these activities help students develop critical skills like communication, teamwork and leadership, which are highly valued in the job market, he added.
Orr said it is important to explore beyond one’s major. He shared his experience working outside his field. “At the Alaska Marine Science Symposium and the Undergraduate Research Fair, I presented ‘Sea Otter Morphometrics and Sex Ratios from an Increasing Population in Southeast Alaska.’ The study explores the population’s growth and its effects on morphometric data and sex ratios. While it’s more math-driven than biological, using regressions and data analysis, it taught me how to apply the skills I’ve gained from my business background to different disciplines,” he said.
Laurel, a senior majoring in business management and TESOL, said extracurriculars helped him become more accountable, particularly in research projects. “One of my proudest achievements was presenting research on ‘Examination of Various Englishes through different aspects of language’ alongside Dr. Maloney and fellow students, which was presented at the K-TESOL conference in Korea earlier this year. Participating in this project deepened my understanding of effective communication and collaboration and taught me the value of responsibility,” he said.
Laurel also said taking ownership of his role, managing his time effectively, and contributing to the team’s success during such projects helped him grow both personally and professionally.
Fostering personal growth
The pursuit of academic excellence is undoubtedly important, but personal growth
often happens outside the classroom, Laurel said. “I have social anxiety, and I accepted that it is beyond my control. We all face different challenges, but I’ve learned even without confidence I still have something valuable to offer, just like everyone else. Instead of letting my weakness overwhelm me, I focus on overcoming it through active participation and involvement,” he said.
Laurel shared through his involvement, he understood the importance of small and simple acts of service. “I volunteered with Women’s Services and Resources, where we packed care packages for new mothers. Through simple acts like this, I realized how deeply rewarding it is to help others. It may seem small to us, but for those receiving the service, it’s a huge gesture of love and support,” he said.
Extracurriculars also help students build meaningful relationships that can support their emotional well-being, Orr said. He also highlighted how networking with professors has been integral to his success. “By visiting their offices regularly, I became more than just another student to them. I could ask questions, get advice and request recommendations when needed,” he shared Building such relationships can open doors to future opportunities, provide mentorship and offer a support system during times of stress.
The role of passion and civic engagement
Araujo shared extracurricular activities have also become a way to channel her passion for causes she believes in. “Earlier this year, I attended a United Nations conference that taught me the realities of the world’s struggles. I realized I couldn’t stop there, so I reached out to youth councils back home offering ideas and mentoring them on how to lead and run initiatives effectively,” she said.
Araujo said her childhood experiences inspired her to serve and be more ambitious. “I grew up in poverty after my father passed away when I was just 10. My mother raised me and my siblings alone. Despite the challenges, I saw my circumstances as a driving force to strive for a better future. I don’t want to live like this forever. I told myself I had to be ambitious and needed a vision,” she said, reflecting on her determination to break the poverty cycle and help others to do the same. Araujo also shared she is working on a research project called the “Filipino Student Depression Inventory.” She said, “The project aims to develop a culturally relevant tool to assess depression among Filipinos, considering the unique cultural factors that may influence how mental health is understood and expressed in the Filipino community.”
Orr emphasized the importance of civic engagement and expressed his commitment to supporting causes he is passionate about. “I’ve been involved with the Iosepa crew, where I supported their training and helped organize activities, even though I didn’t sail on the canoe. I also advocated for elections, encouraging my friends and others to get involved and participate,” he said.
Orr said his involvement with the Iosepa crew highlights his appreciation for cultural preservation and teamwork. “Even though I wasn’t on the canoe, being part of their journey taught me so much about dedication and the value of working together towards a shared goal,” he added.
Faith and perseverance
Araujo said by maintaining her spiritual beliefs while pursuing her dreams she found the greatest sense of fulfillment. “I thought balancing academics and spiritual growth would be impossible,” Araujo confessed. “But I’ve learned with discipline and faith, you can grow in all areas of life,” she said.
While striving for academic excellence and engaging in meaningful extracurricular activities, Araujo said there were moments when she felt overwhelmed by the weight of her responsibilities. “At one point, I even considered stepping away from the Church,” she said, feeling like she was drowning in her commitments. “I felt like no one was there to help, but I reminded myself to stay faithful to keep praying, going to church, and reading my scriptures, even when I didn’t understand why. Eventually, the answers came,” she shared.
“Stay positive,” she advised students. “When you choose to keep moving forward, even in darkness, you’ll find the light. Through this process, I discovered true friends, personal revelations, and even the person I’m going to marry,” she said.