AUDIO TRANSCRIPT:
I like to say that I came to FLC accidentally. By that, I mean I took a chance on FLC, or maybe FLC took a chance on me. Growing up on my rez, the main focus was to graduate high school, so I didn’t spend much time thinking about or planning to go to college. I also didn’t have a lot of people around me who went to college so there was a lot of uncertainty about my future. When I found FLC, as a transfer student, I found a community of people who helped create the best college experience any rez kid could ask for. It didn’t matter how I made it here, what mattered was that I was here.
I became involved as a student in several different roles around campus. I was an orientation leader, admissions ambassador, leadership programs assistant, and ASFLC senator and president. These experiences were incredibly valuable because they helped me create a foundation for a higher education and student affairs career. FLC taught me that college could be a lifetime commitment to love and purpose.
Last fall, I rejoined the FLC community as director of the Student Involvement Center, or as we
have come to call it, the S-I-C. I like to think of my return as a series of full-circle moments. I am privileged to work in many of the same areas as I did as a student. I am not here by accident any more, I am here because my ancestors have called me to be here.
I have so many great campus stories, it’s hard to pick just one. Overall, I’m inclined to say every time a student feels inspired, empowered, or has a deep connection to FLC – a new campus story is made. Those stories are, by default, my favorite.
However, I know I have to mention Michelle Obama’s visit to campus nearly a decade ago. It’s funny because that’s what most people remember me as, “the guy who introduced Michelle Obama”. Something I haven’t always shared about this experience was what happened backstage. I remember spending some time in a backstage room in Whalen talking with the former First Lady casually. I don’t remember much of what we talked about because I was so distracted by how tall, beautiful, and charismatic she was. Before we took the stage, she gave me a pep talk, and we did a small dance behind the curtain. She had this magical way of transferring some of her energy to me, she gave me exactly what I needed to greet the crowd that day. It was a truly humbling experience! I also need to acknowledge Gordon Thomas, the former First Gentleman of FLC, who helped me prepare and practice my speech in the president’s office leading up to this event. I have so much to be grateful for at FLC, and I can’t wait to create more campus stories in the chapters ahead.
My name is Byron Tsabetsaye, and I am the director of the Student Involvement Center.