CBU alumni inspire students to embrace curiosity

Riverside, Calif. (March 13, 2025) – California Baptist University recently welcomed nearly 70 middle and high school students from Hemet Unified School District for an inspiring day of exploration and career insight. The event aimed to spark curiosity and motivate students to consider their future educational and career paths.

The campus visit, organized by Vital Link, a nonprofit focused on college and career readiness, provided students with a day of inspiration. The day included a campus tour, a finance workshop, an entrepreneurial activity and lunch with current engineering and business students.

“The purpose of the event is to give the students the opportunity to visit a college campus, engage with students and alumni to learn about pathways that they have taken and be inspired to pursue an education and career after high school,” said Rhonda Clement, director of strategic initiatives for the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering.

A highlight of the day was the alumni panel, where graduates shared their journeys, offering advice about discovering passions and embracing the uncertainties of the future.

“Go out there and find what you like and what you don't like — especially what you don't like — and then just keep asking questions,” said Dylan Shanahan (’15). Being part of the panel was especially meaningful for Shanahan, now employed at Universal Roberts, having graduated from Hemet High School.

Gaby Juarez (’23, ’24), a recruiter for Inland Empire Health Plan, encouraged the students to keep working toward their goal.

“Don't think that you have to be something at a certain age or by a certain year. Just keep pushing forward,” she said.

Panelists Gaby Juarez, from left, Katie Mast, Jessica Slater, Vanessa Flores, Vincent Mendoza and Dylan Shanahan speak to high school and middle school students.

Panelists told students it was OK to not have everything figured out and to try new things.

“Understand yourself and what you're interested in. Start thinking of the next step and make it fun,” said Vincent Mendoza (’24) is in sales at TechDocs, a software/coding company.

Jessica Slater, set to graduate this spring, is interning at Kimley-Horn, a civil engineering consulting firm, and commissioning into the Army Reserve.

“Keep your options open wide until you have to make a decision, but choose something that you're passionate about,” she said.

Several of the panelists were also the first generation in their families to attend college. They encouraged the students to get help from guidance counselors, teachers and even Google. Vanessa Flores (’23), who works in CBU’s marketing department, used those resources to research term definitions and learn how to write college essays.

“I would say to my younger self it's OK to not have everything figured out, but it's not OK to not do something about it,” she said.

Katie Mast (’21), an engineer at SpaceX, told the students to be bold.

“I really want to encourage you, that someone's path is not necessarily your path. There are opportunities out there to find what you love,” she said.

For the high school students, the panel discussion was reassuring.

“It's OK to go into a major and then switch it if you don't end up liking it because that's something I've been fearing,” said Neviah Gray, a junior at Hamilton High School.

Jesse Castaneda, a senior at Tahquitz High School, is interested in studying business.

“I learned that it's OK to not know what you want to do. Don't be afraid to take risks,” he said.

Lisa Blair, director of CBU’s Career Center, recruited the alumni for the panel.

“It is both important and motivating for students to hear from alumni because it provides tangible evidence that they can relate to peers just a few steps ahead of them, helping them recognize that their ambitions and career goals are attainable,” Blair said.