By Lynnyth Valera Aguilar
MINORITY Care International is not just helping us but also teaching us how to give back to the community. That’s one of the most important principles I have learned. MCI provides guidance and inspiration that leaves a lasting impact on my life and future career path.
As a scholar and a political science student, I have come to understand that education is not meant to be kept for oneself alone. It is a responsibility, one that calls us to serve, to uplift, and to give back to the people and the place that shaped who we are. These lessons are often never forgotten
Through MCI, I was given countless opportunities to grow, not only academically, but as a leader, a speaker, and a servant. Minority Care International is a platform that cultivates purpose-driven individuals. Success is not just about personal wealth, having big cars, big houses, or career accomplishments, but as an opportunity to help others and leave a legacy.
I must first do something good, like what Sir Aland and my community did for me, and that will benefit the people who need it most. Our country is facing a leadership crisis, characterized by widespread public distrust fueled by high-profile corruption, scandals, lack of moral and personal integrity, and accountability.
I remember a long time ago, in one of our fellowships, Sir Aland shared with us that MCI believes every one of us has a place in society. That part cannot be played by anybody else in the world. Being poor and underprivileged does not really matter. What matters is that MCI provides an opportunity for motivated young people to obtain an education that will enable them to make the most of their individual gifts. It is great to see that each one has unique gifts with none having exactly the same ones.
Besides teaching the students to use their skills and gifts, MCI helps students fulfill their dreams. MCI is a place where those dreams can be achieved, and hope can grow. Today, the blackboard is clean; the lessons still have to be written.
MCI believes that scholars are not just achievers, but future servants of their communities, and that belief changed how I see myself and my role in society.
One of the most transformative experiences was being chosen as a representative in a Cultural Exchange Program in Greenville, Texas, during the summer of 2025.
There, I had the privilege of working in a law firm, where I learned firsthand how a legal office operates, how cases are processed, and how justice is pursued through integrity and service. By allowing me to experience international standards and perspectives, MCI empowered me to envision better systems and more inclusive leadership for my own community. That experience strengthened my passion for governance, law, and community-centered leadership.
This recognition is a blessing, not only for me, but for the organization and community I represent. I do not see it just as an award, but as an achievement that inspires me to continue honoring my roots. Through MCI, I was able to present my culture internationally and carry with me the values of being a Tupinian.
I no longer see myself as an ordinary citizen, but as a woman committed to contributing meaningfully to her bountiful community.
Beyond this achievement are the people who wholeheartedly supported this journey: the MCI benefactors; the RBC community filled with people close to my heart; my employer, Atty. Holly Gotcher; my host family, Ma’am Betty Moody; Dr. Gloria Brun-Amaya; Ma’am Kay Mizell; Atty. Susan Cariaga, and my mentor, the president of MCI, Dr. Aland Mizell. Through the glory of God, these remarkable individuals have been instruments of grace in my life.
Tupi is where my growth was witnessed and where my values were shaped. It is the community that nurtured my dreams long before the world recognized them, and the place I will always return to with gratitude and humility.
Because of Minority Care International, I now carry not only opportunities, but a purpose to transform what I have learned into service and leadership. I remain committed to always bringing back whatever I gain, knowledge, global perspectives, opportunities, and hope to uplift future scholars and inspire the next generation to believe that they, too, can serve beyond borders. I want to thank Dr. Mizell, who guided me, directed me, and continues to correct me when I am not doing right.
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Lynnyth Valera Aguilar is a third-year BS in Political Science student at the University of Mindanao and a recipient of the Minority Care International Student Exchange Scholarship to the USA
