When Diane began her time at Eastern, she experienced many of the same uncertainties that countless college students face such as finding community, navigating a new environment, and discerning her future.
But behind those ordinary college experiences was a much deeper struggle.
"I [am] the last and youngest daughter of parents who, more than fifty years ago, survived the horrors of the Cambodian genocide,” she said.
“Their survival paved the way for my own 'firsts': I am among the first in my family to be born on American soil. I am the first to encounter and embrace the life-changing grace of Jesus Christ. And I [am] the first person in my family to earn a Bachelor's degree…With so many 'firsts' to navigate alone, I began to feel deeply lost—not just in my classes, but in my spirit."
By the start of her junior year, she had reached the point where she wondered if she could continue.
"I remember sitting in the chapel at the start of my third year, exhausted and overwhelmed. I sat there in the quiet and silently confessed to God: 'I just want to throw in the towel.'"
That morning, the chapel message centered on Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” As Diane reflected on the familiar verse, she sensed the Lord speaking directly to her.
"As I meditated, I felt the Holy Spirit speak to my heart, saying, 'Diane, I didn't bring you here to quit.' I realized then that while my plan was to throw in the towel, His plan was to throw it right back at me and say, 'You can finish what you started.'"
The experience changed not only her perspective but also her willingness to ask for help.
Diane began taking advantage of the resources around her, working with academic tutors and writing coaches, seeking guidance from Career Development and her academic advisor, leaning on the support of her professors, and meeting with counselors through CAPS.
"As I opened up, everything changed."
The more she invested in the Eastern community, the more she found her voice.
"I joined clubs, stepped into leadership, and became comfortable—not just with being connected, but with being heard. I stopped hesitating to speak up."
That transformation ultimately revealed a calling she never expected.
"My spiritual journey through the unknown has inspired a new 'first' in my life: a calling."
Inspired by the faculty, staff, and mentors who supported her, Diane plans to pursue graduate studies in Religious Studies and become a university chaplain, walking alongside students as they navigate challenges of their own.
"My goal is to become a University Chaplain, so that I can come alongside the next generation of students as they navigate their own 'firsts,' ensuring they know that they never have to walk the path alone."
Diane’s story is a reminder that a college education is about more than earning a diploma. It is about becoming the person God has called you to be—and recognizing that no one has to make that journey alone.