Kenrick — A Conversation with Kenrick Mark Coleman Features Emmanuel Mangar
The Kenrick Mark Coleman Foundation
Kenrick — A Conversation with Kenrick Mark Coleman Features Emmanuel Mangar
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Emmanuel Mangar. I was born in San Ignacio, Cayo on August 27th 1995. I am now twenty two years of age. I am the eldest son of Lawrence and Venice Mangar. I have three younger siblings. I was born and raised in the Roman Catholic faith, which I still practice today. I enjoy all the pleasantries life has to offer and I am very passionate about family life, music, relationships and life long learning.
2. You are currently pursuing studies at Rockhurst University majoring in Business Administration. What do you believe is important in this your role?
My role is to become holistically educated and return to Belize and contribute to the educational transformation of younger minds.
3. Tell us more about your academic life at University? How did you received the scholarship? Why did you choose this particular University? When did you commence studies? What subject areas are focused on? What’s your relationship like with fellow students?
a. Academics at Rockhurst University was overwhelming at first in my fall semester of 2016. It was my first semester studying at an institution outside of Belize. Professors were very demanding with assignments and practice problems pertaining to my area of study. Also, they were not necessarily running behind you asking you for assignments either. In fact, most of the assignments were for the students benefit and were not graded at all. However, it was very important that I kept up to speed by doing the assignments even though they were not collected because the exams are weighted heavy when determining a grade for the class. Quickly, I realized that while there were many assignments and class material, there were also many resources readily available to help one through the semester. These resources included, tutors and supplemental instructors, up to date technology and online practice problems for select classes, even the professors made themselves available throughout the week to ensure you are learning to your full potential.
b. I received the scholarship to Rockhurst University through the Belize Jesuit Scholarship program offered at St. John’s College Junior College in Belize City. The scholarship program links St. John’s College with other select Jesuit universities in the US. There is an application and interview process that takes place at St. John’s College Junior College and is open to students who are graduating from SJCJC. Generally, all second-year students who are graduating can and are encouraged to apply. I highly recommend applying for one of the Jesuit Scholarships.
c. I chose Rockhurst University because it had a great Accounting program. I also chose Rockhurst University because it was one of the smaller Jesuit schools. Class sizes don’t get larger than 35 students except for my accounting major classes which is generally around 50. I appreciate the small classroom sizes because it allows you to get to know your professors and makes the classroom more interactive from time to time. Another reason and probably the driving factor for me was the generosity with which the scholarship financial aid package came. It made all the difference between me deciding to stay in Belize to pursue my Bachelors, or take the challenge and study abroad. I do not regret it.
d. I began studying at Rockhurst University in the fall semester of 2016. To be exact the first day of classes was August 22nd, 2016.
e. I am currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. So, I take all the necessary accounting classes I need to fulfill that major including principles of accounting, tax and auditing. I also take some business courses to satisfy the administration part of the degree. These courses vary from finance, to economics to international business. And of course, I am attending a Jesuit institution so it wouldn’t be right if they didn’t provide with the big picture of helping me to be well rounded. So I have to take some philosophy, theology, and art courses.
f. My relationship with students on campus is amazing! I have made so many friends over the past year it just fills the soul with so much joy. Again, I appreciate a small school because it is small enough to see the same faces everyday but somehow still large enough to meet someone new on a daily basis. Most people are open to meeting someone new and ready to have a conversation. You learn from different people from all different walks of life and it somehow in a subtle way adds to your personality as well. Of course, I tend to be a very outgoing person so maybe it is just my point of view. All in all, I am glad that I can walk by a person and say “Hi, how are you?” on any given day and you will always get a response. On a deeper level, I have made some really tight bonds with several people here on campus. They have become my brothers and sisters, my family in a different country. And I would like to thank God for the grace of having friends become family.
4. Describe your transformation process from little Belize to Kansas City, Missouri? How is life as a student in Kansas City?
Being here at Rockhurst University has transformed me physically, mentally, and spiritually. One of the things that most universities have to offer is a dining hall. The one here at Rockhurst, is all you can eat, and has a wide variety of food choices. If you have a meal plan, it means you can swipe in any time during when they are open and eat as much as you want. With that being said, I have picked up a few pounds but it’s not that visible because of my fast metabolism. Also, being around so many students, who have a habit of going to the gym, naturally, I developed this habit as well. So, I would say that I have grown physically and try to stay as healthy as I can. Mentally, is one of the more obvious transformation. My ability to handle more tasks and cope with multiple deadlines has grown significantly. I need to be in the right mindset all the time and my time management skills have improved. I still struggle from time to time with procrastination as I tend to understand things pretty quickly. However, whenever I work on a task ahead of time, it relieves from the anxiety of rushing it at the end. Lastly, being here at Rockhurst has helped me to grow spiritually and stronger in my faith. I have always had the guidance and training wheels of my parents to remind me to go to church and telling me how important my faith life is. Well, now being in a different country, it has truly become my choice as to what it is that I believe. Let me tell you that I have never felt closer to God here than I have before. Now, when I go to mass and practice my Catholic faith, it is purely because I choose to do so and not because my parents are constantly reminding me.
5. What are the challenges you have as a student at Rockhurst University? Opportunities?
Challenges as a student at Rockhurst University, include but are not limited to, traveling, job opportunities, and the freedom to do as you please. Back at home, I had the comfort of using my parent’s car to drive around and move freely as I please without it being too much of a financial constraint. However, this challenge is also an opportunity, because you realize that people are really friendly here in the University. I have made some great friends who are understanding of various people’s situations and are willing to help out whether that be a ride to the grocery store, or catching a ride when the crowd’s going to get taco bell. There are plenty of opportunities to be mobile around the city if you keep an open heart and mind. As a student here in the US on an F1 Visa, your options of working are technically limited to on campus jobs. However, you can work on campus if the internship can count toward class credit. This is what is known as the CPT program while you’re in school, or OPT program after you graduate. These are both optional. The last thing that has been challenging to me, is really having the free will to do as you please. There are days when I really don’t feel like studying at all. Or when that paper can wait another day to be written. And no one is around to tell me otherwise. This is when I have to find it in myself and remember the reason why I chose to be here. This too is an opportunity for me because then I seek out friends who are motivational and always tend to stay on top of their school work. It helps to be in a motivated environment, especially in college and in life in general.
6. Why is Business Administration (Accounting) important to Belize’s National Development?
Accounting is often referred to as the “Language of business”. It is a way to communicate information about business. Even more so, accounting involves a high level of ethics when it comes to business practices. When communicating information to internal parties involved, we would want them to be able to trust the information being shared about the business. Likewise, whenever showing information to the public, it is critical that the information regarding the status of a business/institution/corporation/government be absolutely true and as transparent as can be. As a young country moving forward, in order for everyone to be on the same page as to the status of our economy and how we can help move it forward, we must know what the true state of our economy is. If we have accountants, who are experts at their profession, holding ethical business practices to the highest regard, we can have information that will be beneficial in helping to make better decisions to develop the country further. This idea of understanding the language of business spreads wide from the smallest of businesses to the national government.
7. Let’s talk about extra-curricular activities at the University. Kindly tell us more. Do you participate in activities in general (not at school) with other Belizeans there? How do you “uphold” Belize’s name sake?
I am a very involved individual on campus. I love sharing my gifts and talents to where they may be of most utility to the university community and the surrounding community. To name a few, I am currently a Student Senator in the Student Senate. I am also a supplemental instruction leader for financial accounting. I am a Joyful Noise Leader, which is a music worship team in campus ministry. I also do volunteer work in the international office and help out when international students arrive here on campus. I am also a member of this semester’s student choir, where I will get to student conduct a piece at our Christmas concert.
In terms of stuff outside of school, I attended both my first baseball game, and NFL football game here in Kansas City. They were both thrilling and exciting events. I have also done a lot of other things local to Kansas City, MO. For example, experiencing events and venues like First Fridays at Crossroads, Power and Light district. I also went ice skating for the first time at Crown Center. It was a fun experience. Of course, I love dining and trying out different foods and restaurants in the area. These are just a few of the activities I have experienced and/or am currently involved in. I would say that I am a great ambassador to Belize for every conversation that I hold, I am always asked where I’m from. That usually leads in to a whole discussion about our beautiful home country. I’ve also spread our creole here on campus referring to friends as “bway” or “gyal” or “breda” or “sistah”. At world cultures day, I was asked to say a prayer in creole which I tried my best to make it as creole as possible. It was quite something. Also, some songs that I’ve written, I sing in creole so whenever I play them for people, they always question me about the language. I love Belize and so do the people of Rockhurst. The only down side to the scholarship is that Rockhurst offers the scholarship to one student at a time. Which I understand because as I mentioned earlier, it is a very generous scholarship. Either way, I think the three Belizeans including myself has done a very great job in being ambassadors to our country.
8. What are three things you learnt as an International Student studying in the USA, which you would like to share?
a. Number one, be yourself. People are interested in the uniqueness that you bring to the table.
b. Number two, Take your breaks as seriously as you take your school work. It is easy to get caught up in the cycle of just working all the time. That only leads to being burned out. If you take your work seriously, you should also take your break seriously and relax the mind.
c. Number three, Remember to experience things outside of school as well. The place in which you live in or where you go to study has so much to offer and it is all a part of the learning experience. It is not just academic learning, but life learning as well. Experience it to the fullest.
9. In my article ‘Holistic Determination and Evaluation of Belize’s Primary Culture of Reluctance’, I stated: “The primary culture of reluctance refers to a themed, laid-back mentality, wherein our population, or at least, majority of the population, have a meddlesome, unaware, and mediocre approach to self development and self fulfillment.” Do you believe likewise?
Your statement has parts that I agree with and do not agree with. Firstly, I do not agree with having the word laid back in the statement for I personally appreciate our “laid back” culture. I think it gives us a creative space to think instead of constantly worrying about getting to the next schedule like it is the end of the world. However, don’t confuse my appreciation for our laid back chill culture with not being committed. I firmly believe in being punctual and staying committed to things/people/relationships that we have given our word to.
What I do believe is that majority of the population is unaware. It is this ignorance, sometimes lack of resources, that causes us to not be able to progress to our full potential. That is why I appreciate outlets like this which share knowledge/experiences that can inspire the youth.
10. What three words do you have to say to young Belizeans?
a. GOD
b. LOVE
c. COMMITMENT
