By Naomi Yee
Being born and raised in Albuquerque, N.M, choosing a college close to home and family was an easy decision for Eastern New Mexico University junior Manuel Trevizo.
Trevizo is majoring in Spanish Secondary Education with a minor in English Second Language, and he realizes the journey to receiving his bachelors will be a long, yet beneficial process.
Once acquiring this degree in the spring of 2016, Trevizo has several goals for his future. Some goals include, “Going home to Albuquerque to get my Master’s [Degree], marry my dance partner, and get more involved with my church, Mars Hill.”
Trevizo’s dream is to complete his Master’s in Spanish from Arizona State University in Phoenix, Ariz., while being a part of the new Mars Hill Spanish Ministry and outreach to the Spanish-speaking community. Trevizo said that Phoenix has the second- largest Spanish-speaking population out of all the major cities in the United States.
The goal is to pursue his professional degree, but Trevizo said his ministry is more important, and he is willing to give everything up to go where God leads.
Trevizo credits ENMU with having teachers that are caring and passionate and who want to see their students go forth and succeed. Trevizo said he is thankful for the small campus.
“I get to build solid friendships with a countless number of people,” he said. “I am an outgoing, excited and exuberant person.”
At the start of his freshmen year, Trevizo was a member of ENMU’s cross-country team and was involved with the Baptist Student Union, a Christian ministry on campus. However, due to numerous injuries and time management, Trevizo quit the cross-country team after his first year of school.
Although he is no longer a member of the team, Trevizo still finds time to run and is currently training for the Peanut Festival 5K run.
Trevizo said, “If there’s any competition, bring it.”
His time to beat is right around 16 minutes.
Without cross-country, Trevizo is now able to focus more on his studies and his faith, which plays a leading role in his life.
Being involved in BSU has grown Trevizo’s desire for the ministry and has helped develop his leadership skills. Last year, he led a Bible study and this year he is the prayer coordinator. This job requires Trevizo to be sure those attending BSU have material to pray for, such as prayer requests on the campus level up to the global level.
Another example of Trevizo’s job would be to coordinate a 24-hour prayer and worship night, which is planned for sometime this coming October.
Studies and ministry take up a majority of Trevizo’s time, but despite his busy schedule, Trevizo still makes time to do what he loves. And what he loves to do is dance.
Trevizo said, “I am an avid two-stepper, boot wearer and a soon to be cowboy hat wearer. I give 50 percent credit to my awesome roommate, Ethan Myers.”