January 2023 Spotlight: Crescente Pérez
Crescente Pérez, ISPA Class of 2020, FIU Honors and Ave Maria University, Graduating December 2023
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Minor in Writing, 2023
Career Goals: My career goals are to work in the public relations/lobbying industry or to pursue graduate studies in Communications or Theology. Speaking more broadly, however, my main goal is to use my education in a way that allows me to provide for my family and help other people as much as possible; I wish to help build a society of love and truth in whatever I do.
What has been the biggest surprise about the college experience? For me, the biggest surprise about the college experience has been to realize that getting professional formation is not the only thing one should hope to gain in college. When I transferred from The Honors College at FIU to Ave Maria University (which is a liberal arts institution), I came to see that professional formation by itself is not enough to succeed; while in college, one should actively seek to cultivate virtues—such as wisdom and temperance—as well as good healthy relationships with other peers. That—combined with professional formation—is what one should hope to gain in college.
Most challenging coursework in college? For me, it was a class on Western Civilization and Culture—not because of the nature or contents of the class, for it was actually very fun—because of all the readings and the philosophical terms one had to memorize thematically.
Accomplishment most proud of? Half-way through my college education, I was able to land an internship as a Strategic Communications Intern at the office of Commissioner Raquel Regalado in Miami-Dade County. This was an amazing experience, for I got to meet many people and get hands-on experience and knowledge of the political landscape at the local government level. Also, for a period of about 1 year, I hosted a live weekly show at Maria Vision—an international Catholic TV network. Currently, I work as a Public Relations Intern at the marketing department of Ave Maria University.
Can you provide any advice for current ISPA students? My advice for current ISPA students is this: Make the most of your time in high school; get involved in service opportunities, for in serving and loving others you will find true joy. Take college seriously and pick a school that will form you into the person you want to become. You will always find opportunities to have fun with friends, but where you look for that fun can be decisive for your development as a person and as a professional. Be authentic and cultivate a love for truth and wisdom. And above all, do not be afraid to openly love God and others around you.
Can you tell us how ISPA prepared you for success in college and in life?
ISPA allowed me to live out the high school experience surrounded by different cultures and languages, which ignited in me a passion for language and the humanities in general. My Language Arts classes with Ms. Milian had a tremendous positive impact in me as a person and my college experience as a whole; she helped me appreciate the power of language in its rhetorical and literary forms. Also, coming from a “multi-cultural” background, while in college I was able to better connect with fellow classmates and coworkers.
I paid for college with… Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, private scholarships, and donations from benefactors.
Fondest memory from High School? I think that—besides learning about other cultures and laughing in class with Mr. Courel, and besides serenading Natalia, Mrs. Ledo, Mrs. Acevedo, Mrs. Diaz, and Dr. Blanco with the guitar or violin—my fondest memory from high school is the spring music show of 2019. Music shows with Mr. Bravo were always very fun; we got to showcase the musical talent of the students while enjoying a good time with teachers, students, and parents.