ESTEBAN SALCIDO | staff writer
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courtesy of Andrew Rowland
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| Senior global studies major ANDREW ROWLAND encourages other seniors to not give into the "American dream". |
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THE CLAUSE What advice would you give to a freshman?
ANDREW ROWLAND I would say just to get involved in as many different programs as you can and to take advantage of the four years that you’re here.
TC How did you first participate in Office of World Missions (OWM)?
AR I went on a mission trip to Jamaica the summer after my freshman year. I was just a team member.
TC As a student coordinator of OWM, would you encourage others to participate in OWM?
AR I would definitely encourage others to participate so that they could see a way of life that’s different from the one they grew up with. Perhaps, they can learn how to live a way where they’re mindful of other people around the world instead of just themselves.
TC Why did you change your major to global studies?
AR I changed because I was originally youth ministry and I was told they were going to have a global emphasis but it turned out they didn’t and the major just wasn’t for me. I took an anthropology class with Dr. Mangan and it changed my life. It just seemed so different from any other major on campus. The L.A. term aspect of it and the global learning term requirement just offered an experience that no other major offers.
TC Why did you choose to serve in H.I.S. Years?
AR I wanted to live and work abroad after I graduated but I had too many student loans to do it on my own. H.I.S. Years offers students who are passionate about living and working abroad a stipend for their student loans so that they’re free to live out their calling without having to worry about financial struggles.
TC Why did you choose to serve in Vietnam?
AR When I was working in the office, I had to drive Mr. High—who has a ministry in Vietnam—to the airport. While we were driving, we were talking about H.I.S. Years and he was talking about his program. I later talked about it to Jillian Gilbert who runs H.I.S. Years and she encouraged me to go to Vietnam. After reading about it and praying and everything, I really started to consider living in Vietnam for two years.
TC How has your time spent at APU changed your life?
AR It’s completely changed my life. Especially L.A. term and global learning term, those two experiences have shown me realities that I never before thought existed. In terms of L.A. term, structural racism, urban poverty, and various urban issues that I had never even considered living in Rancho Cucamonga. Global learning term really empowered me to realize that I can learn a new language if I try, make friends cross-culturally, and do research cross-culturally. I would say that those two experiences especially. Also experiences of community like living with roommates and the alpha program and Office of World Missions and just seeing what it means to live with other Christians and what it takes to struggle but work through the struggles and live like the church.
TC What advice would you give to a senior?
AR Don’t give into the American dream.
TC Why would you give this advice?
AR So many college students when they’re taking theology classes or sociology and anthropology classes, they get really passionate about living simply or living in community. They care a lot about the people around them. They care a lot about the issues that people are dealing with, domestically and abroad. But then they graduate and get a 9 to 5 job, and they get bills and paychecks, and they get married and have kids. They start compromising the things they’re passionate about. Maybe they’re passionate about living simply, but they want their kids to live in a “safe” neighborhood so they move to upscale Rancho Cucamonga. They want their kids to be safe in the back of the car so they buy a Ford Explorer or something and pretty soon, they’re disconnected from any form of community, they’re not living simply, their passions have been reduced to simply donating to charities. I think living out your passions and the things God has called you to do is a daily struggle and if you’re not focused on it after you graduate and you’re just trying to make money and trying to be comfortable, it gets really difficult.
TC Where do you imagine yourself to be in 10 years?
AR Either working in Vietnam or another country abroad or in Los Angeles.
