School of Nursing, Health, and Exercise Science

Pronouns: He/him/his

Major: Health and Exercise Science

Class: 2021

About Me: Part-Time Personal Trainer! Applying to Physical Therapy schools during my gap year.

Barkada’s Impact: BKAD has helped me take pride in our Filipino Culture. This club has given me life-long friends and acquaintances that made me love my experience at TCNJ.

Advice To My Younger Self: Invest in people! Life is short, so take your chances!

dejesum4@tcnj.edu

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Major: Nursing

Minor: Public Health

Class: 2021

Positions: District V Co-Chairperson 2020-2021, Senior Vice President 2019-2020, Treasurer 2018-2019, Barkada Tinikling Choreographer, 2018-2019

About Me: I just started a new position at a hospital in North Jersey! I am working as a registered nurse on a surgical stepdown unit and I am also part of a year-long Registered Nurse Residency Program. I am enjoying learning and gaining new experiences as I start my career and transition into post-grad life!

Barkada’s Impact: Barkada made my college experience so incredibly memorable. I have met so many amazing people and I have made life-long friends through the connections that Barkada has given me. Barkada gave me a space to be myself and allowed me to grow into the person I am today. I am so incredibly grateful for the experiences that Barkada gave me. If you are on the fence about joining, definitely give it a try!

Advice To My Younger Self: Don't be so hard on yourself and don't be afraid to say no! You aren't a superhero and you can't do everything. Also, your accomplishments do not define your worth. You are enough just as you are so enjoy your life! YOLO hehe

vianevillanueva18@gmail.com

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Major: Nursing

Class: 2013

Positions: Secretary 2011-2012, Public Relations, 2010-2011

About Me: I work as a Registered Nurse at a dialysis center. I recently earned my Masters degree in Nursing Informatics.

Barkada’s Impact: Barkada introduced me to my lifelong best friends and my husband. During college, the organization not only allowed me to stay in touch with my roots and my true self but it also provided me a safe space to meet, gather, and participate in events. Barkada truly made a lasting impact in my life.

Advice To My Younger Self: Do all the things.

Kdelapenarn@gmail.com

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Major: Nursing

Class: 2012

Positions: President 2011-2012, Secretary 2010-2011

About Me: I’ve worked for the past 8 years as a registered nurse at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson. I work night shift on a busy neurology & medical/surgical floor. On the side, I also have my own baked good company called Cake Pop Lynovations. I've been fortunate enough to collaborate with Barkada over the years on several cake pop fundraisers, which means a lot that I can still support an organization that means so much to me.

Barkada’s Impact: Barkada played a significant part in my time at TCNJ and continues to impact my life to this day. Meeting other Filipinos and bonding over our shared experiences as Filipino-Americans was such a therapeutic experience. As an underclassman, Barkada was a safe space where I met Ates & Kuyas that I considered mentors & roles models. As I became more involved with the club, I learned so much about event planning, collaborating with other organizations, and effective leadership skills. Barkada gave me lifelong friends and fun memories, so it is heartwarming to still see it thriving today.

Advice To My Younger Self: Take all the pictures! You'll look back one day and smile as you look through them. Don't take everything so seriously. Cherish the big and small moments. And fair warning that 10 years later, you'll still be wondering if a song you hear would be good for a Tinikling routine.

loralyn.sarabia@gmail.com

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Major: Nursing

Class: 2018

Positions: Treasurer, 2015-2016, Internal VP 2016-2017, President, 2017-2018, Tinikling Act Leader 2016-2018

About Me: I am an Emergency Room Nurse at the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ. Outside of work, you can find me powerlifting at my local gym, walking my Corgi, Chickpea, or eating anything and everything tasty :)

Barkada’s Impact: Aside from Barkada introducing me to some of my favorite people in existence; Before Barkada, I never truly identified with my Filipino culture. I grew up in a town where across all 4 grades in my high school, there were 6 Filipino kids-- none of which were in my grade. Barkada helped me understand and appreciate that there is more to being Filipino than watching Pacquiao fights or loving lumpia. In so many ways, it's a beautiful culture and I'm more than proud to identify with it.

Advice To My Younger Self: Stop overthinking it. Everything. It's okay to rely on other people and it's okay to set limits and take a break.

alexa.sia511@gmail.com

Pronouns: He/him/his

Major: Nursing

Class: 2019

Positions: External VP 2017-2018, Internal VP 2018-2019

About Me: Hi! I've been a cardiac step-down nurse since graduating. If I'm not working, I'm powerlifting, playing video games, or watching anime (just got into One Piece lol). Find me on IG @j.cm_b <3.

Barkada’s Impact: Barkada was my life lol.

Advice To My Younger Self: Relax <3

josephballesteros97@gmail.com

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Major: Nursing

Class: 2014

About Me: Right after graduating, I landed my dream job at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania's Critical Care Nurse Residency. After several years of high acuity experience in the cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit, I matriculated into Thomas Jefferson University's Nurse Anesthesia Program, where I earned my Doctorate of Nursing Practice in 2019. Currently, I practice as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist with the Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania. I'm living and loving life in Philadelphia with my partner and our sweet Saluki pup!

Barkada’s Impact: "Kapwa" is a real phenomenon, and I felt it right away after meeting and becoming friends with others in Barkada. Nearly a decade of friendship later, and I still consider my bkads some of my closest friends!

Advice To My Younger Self: Be open-minded to various experiences and meeting people different than yourself!

azarcon.andrea@gmail.com

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Major: Nursing

Class: 2012

Positions: Public Relations Chair, 2010-2011; Treasurer, 2011-2012

About Me: After graduation, I worked as a MedSurg/Orthopedic Nurse for 9 years. I recently switched specialties and I’m now a Labor & Delivery Nurse! It’s never too late to find your passion!

Barkada’s Impact: TCNJ Barkada has been a huge part of my life although I graduated in 2012. It gave me the opportunity to learn more about our culture and bond with others with similar Filipino-American experiences. Through this organization, I’ve been introduced to lifelong friends and the man who became my husband. Barkada has taught me that Love Actually is all around.

Advice To My Younger Self: Dance first, think later. But don’t body roll too hard or you may pull your hamstring. True story.

amvillarta@gmail.com

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Major: Nursing

Class: 2022

About Me: After graduation I landed a job in a Periop 101 Nurse Residency Program and am currently training to both circulate and scrub as an operating room nurse! It's completely different than anything I've learned in nursing school but I absolutely love it. Outside of nursing I've been reading, traveling, and going to lots of concerts and happy hours with my friends!

Barkada’s Impact: Barkada was the first organization I joined and became involved in during college. It is where I met some of my closest friends that I still talk to and hang out with today, and where I made some of my favorite memories. I'll always be forever grateful for the impact that it had on my college experience and hope that it continues to have the same influence on the generations to come. Also... don't be afraid to join if you aren't Filipino, they're one of the most welcoming organizations on campus!

Advice To My Younger Self: You are the most important person in your life. So it's okay to put yourself first sometimes because you can't take care of others if you aren't caring for yourself too. The right things will stay and the right people will stay. You will never lose what is meant for you <3

rbeccageddis@gmail.com

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Major: Nursing

Class: 2022

About Me: I started a new position at Atlantic Health System's Critical Care Nurse Residency! I am currently in a 6-month orientation to work as a registered nurse in a Neuro Intensive Care Unit. I am extremely excited to transition into the role as an RN and to work with high acuity patients. Outside of nursing, I've been traveling, going to the gym, meeting up with friends, and binge-watching shows :)

Barkada’s Impact: Barkada played a vital part during my time at TCNJ. I met so many inspirational people and life-long friends in Barkada that have contributed to my favorite memories during my time there. Barkada has also provided me with a space to learn about Filipino culture that I lacked while growing up. As a result, I learned to appreciate Filipino culture which allowed me to create a strong bond with my family. The club also helped me grow into the person that I am today. I became comfortable with who I am and with the experiences I have gone through growing up as a Filipino in America. Barkada has made such a tremendous impact on my life that I will forever be thankful for.

Advice to My Younger Self: Don't take things too seriously! Whatever situation you are going through, it is temporary and it will change. Also don't be so hard on yourself — let yourself go out and have fun, you can say yes! :D

kamilahtorrillo@gmail.com

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Major: Nursing

Class: 2024

About Me: I’m a full time medical surgical float nurse and am a part of the nurse residency program in my hospital for new grads.

Barkada’s Impact: Barkada has given me so many opportunities to connect and meet new people but also value Filipino culture as well. Each meeting, I was able to learn about Filipino culture with my best friends and was able to watch everyone grow.

Advice To My Younger Self: Make sure to always take care of yourself and put yourself first!

Reach out to Barkada Eboard for my contact info!