Community service isn’t just something Jasmine Arevalo-Amaya does — it’s an integral part of her identity. A junior at Whitworth University majoring in business administration with a specialization in accounting, she is deeply involved both on campus and in the local Spokane community. She’s found her calling in helping others, thanks in large part to her journey with Rainier Scholars. “My desire to work in public accounting for nonprofits really stems from Rainier Scholars,” Jasmine says. “All the support I received and seeing how much Rainier Scholars does for the community has been inspiring.”
That support helped shape not just her academic path, but also her sense of purpose. Originally a business management major, Jasmine discovered her passion for accounting through a class that opened new doors and a professor who became a mentor. Thanks to the resume-building and interview skill-building guidance she received from Rainier Scholars, she applied for and landed a competitive internship at Moss Adams, a public accounting firm, where she’ll return this summer.
Jasmine’s goals reach beyond numbers. She’s committed to using her accounting background to support nonprofit organizations. That calling was solidified during a study abroad semester in Costa Rica, where Jasmine worked hands-on in the accounting department of a nonprofit serving women, children and migrants. “Numbers is a language that translates, no matter what. That’s where my love for accounting comes from. But above my passion for accounting comes my love of helping others,” she explains.
On campus, Jasmine lives out that passion as a Student Success coach, mentoring students through weekly one-on-one sessions. “I meet with students and ask, ‘What’s going on? How can I help you?’ The goal is to get them to a place where they have the skills to succeed,” she says. Jasmine is also a member of Whitworth’s business and accounting clubs and a part of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), where she helps community members file their taxes. She’s set to complete more than 60 hours of volunteer work this semester alone.
Despite her widespread campus and community involvement, a sense of belonging hasn’t always come easily for Jasmine. As a woman of color at a predominantly white institution in a predominantly white area, she has faced her share of challenges. “There have been a lot of times when I felt like I don’t belong or that these spaces aren’t made for me,” she says. “I’ve had a lot of these conversations with my Rainier Scholar academic counselors. Their support pushes me every single day. When I’m having those moments when I feel like I don’t belong here, I hear their voices and know that I do belong, and I am in these spaces for a reason.”
That sense of connection to community has also been tested and affirmed in the classroom. At a time when political discourse is an integral part of the college experience, Jasmine has found opportunities to lean into tough conversations and explore different perspectives, even in unexpected settings. “In my tax class last semester, we debated the different tax policies each presidential candidate was bringing to the table. We were challenged to debate a side we may disagree with. So, I think my campus has done a good job at holding safe spaces to have these discussions,” she says.
When asked to reflect on Rainier Scholars’ role in her life, Jasmine doesn’t hesitate. “My life is different because of Rainier Scholars, and it will always be different because of Rainier Scholars. It gave me the power and the space to grow into the person I am now and who I will become.”