May Student Spotlight with Wilson Tejada, BSPA ‘21

Undergraduate student Wilson Tejada talks about his “life-changing” time in the U.S. Army, his decision to come back to school, and his New York State Assembly internship.

Tell us about your experience in the U.S. Army.
I made a life-changing choice at the age of 20 and joined the Army. I didn’t truly understand the impact that it would have on me, and I think anyone who has served can agree that the military is an incredibly personal and unique experience. No two service members can say that they had the same experience. I enlisted as an artillery radar operator and did my basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. I was stationed in Fort Wainwright, Alaska for three years and deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. During my deployment, my platoon was tasked with patrolling an area in Kandahar, where we partnered with the local authorities to engaged with the locals and secure the roads from IEDs. After that deployment, I was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, where I spent the rest of my military service. We trained a lot and we trained hard in Texas. I enjoyed the physical and mental challenges that came with being in a cavalry unit, but what made it enjoyable was getting through those challenges and sharing those experiences with my fellow soldiers. I did a rotation with 1st CAV to South Korea, which was a remarkable experience for me. As a new sergeant, I was in charge of training my team for the challenges of being miles away from hostile forces, but we were also able to explore the cities of South Korea and learn about their culture. Joining the military was an invaluable time in my life, revealing my discipline and work ethic, as well as opening a path to new frontiers, and for that I am eternally grateful.

How did you decide to come back to school – what made you choose the Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs program at the Marxe School?
My military experience heavily influenced my decision to go back to school. I struggled academically in high school and graduated nearly at the bottom of my class. However, during my service I realized the importance of going back to school and, the value of what a college degree could do for my future. I am fortunate to have many leaders in my life that have impacted me significantly. They educated me, encouraged me to aim higher, pushed me to be a leader, and supported me in my endeavors. These mentors all share one thing in common, believing in the value of education. I first obtained my Associates Degree and later applied to Baruch and was accepted in 2017. Originally, I came to Baruch as a Real Estate major but later switched to Public Affairs. I wanted to take many of the values and skills acquired during my military service and continue public service, but this time in a diplomatic capacity. I aim for a future working with the United Nations or a career as a Foreign Service Officer.

How is your New York State Assembly internship going thus far? What do you hope to accomplish with this experience?
My experience in the New York State Assembly internship has been surreal. I recently realized how competitive and prestigious this program is, and I am grateful to have been chosen. My peers have been the most professional, disciplined, intelligent and friendliest young adults I have ever met. I am honored to work alongside them. It has been inspiring to see many of the things that I have learned as a BSPA student become relevant in my work at the State Assembly. Although I am still in the early stages of the internship, I have been lucky enough to be on the assembly floor with my assembly member and sit in on conferences to discuss legislation, go to press conferences and analyze bills, as well as write memos regarding resolutions. I have a great relationship with my assembly member, and I am grateful to have been placed in his office. Mr. Manktelow and my supervisor have taught me a lot in the short time I have been here, and I am extremely excited to see my progress at the end of this internship. Ultimately, my goals in this internship are to gain new practical knowledge and skills and build lifetime professional and personal connections with colleagues within this prestigious program.

My military experience heavily influenced my decision to go back to school. I struggled academically in high school and graduated nearly at the bottom of my class. However, during my service I realized the importance of going back to school and, the value of what a college degree could do for my future. I am fortunate to have many leaders in my life that have impacted me significantly. They educated me, encouraged me to aim higher, pushed me to be a leader, and supported me in my endeavors. These mentors all share one thing in common, believing in the value of education. I first obtained my Associates Degree and later applied to Baruch and was accepted in 2017. Originally, I came to Baruch as a Real Estate major but later switched to Public Affairs. I wanted to take many of the values and skills acquired during my military service and continue public service, but this time in a diplomatic capacity. I aim for a future working with the United Nations or a career as a Foreign Service Officer.