From Southwestern to The Real World

By Lourenca Mangueira

(Edited by Angela Mangueira and B.J. Mondesir)

Lourenca Mangueira

I came to Southwestern Adventist University out of the blue. At first I didn’t know what to expect. I was anxious, nervous and scared all at once. I didn’t know a single soul on campus. Behind all that, I didn’t know what to expect. I asked myself the entire trip to the campus, “Am I going to have any friends? Am I capable of make new friends?” Well, guess what? When I first entered my room I met a kind, loving girl and we turned out to be great friends.

Southwestern had a great impact in my life. I was a very active person on campus. Since I was far away from home, I got involved in most activities. So that I wouldn’t think about home all the time, I was NEVER in my room during the day. I only used my room to sleep, shower and study there (because the library was never my favorite spot). I loved hanging out with my friends, teammates and the basketball trips were great. I was also part of the Enactus team, where I learned many things that are useful to my life right now.

I spent four long, fun, exciting, hard years at Southwester Adventist University. Up to this day I can say that they were the best years of my life. I can’t say that it was all fun. I had some hard, boring, stressful, sad days, but I only keep the good memories on my mind. Southwestern was “the world” that I lived in.

I left Southwestern with a degree in business and an emphasis in management. After my graduation, I was excited. I travelled a little, and then I returned home to the real world.

The real world is scary; that’s the only word I can think of to describe it. However, with God, you can conquer the world. Since I moved to Angola, I left all my friends behind. Making new friends is hard, but I’ve managed to make some. Also working with people that have different education and character than your own is extremely hard.

I’m still transitioning from Southwestern to the real world. They are two different places, and two completely different environments. I feel like I lived in a bubble and now that bubble has popped. The real world is stressful. School can be stressful too, but it’s a different kind of stress.

As an alumnus of Southwestern Adventist University, I can say that it deeply affected my life in a good way. I’m learning about life and growing up in the real word. In the real world every day is a new experience. You learn even if you don’t want to.

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