兔子先生系列麻豆

MEET Felipe Henao Lla帽a 鈥�26
CURRENT MAJOR: Bachelor of Science in Economics 鈥�26

Answered prayers 鈥� a little brother

Despite a seven-year age difference, Felipe Henao Lla帽a and his sister Juana were always close. Afterall, she鈥檇 only been praying most of her life for a little brother.

As a young boy, Felipe wanted to do everything his big sister did. She played soccer. He played soccer. She attended camp. He attended camp.

However, that came to an end when she wanted to move to the U.S. for college sports. He couldn鈥檛 fathom the idea of leaving his native Colombia.

Sibling attachment runs deep, so it鈥檚 easy to understand why he was devastated when his sister arrived back from a Washington, DC soccer vacation and announced her plans to pursue a college education in the states. Felipe was faced with a difficult separation. He wanted the best for his sister, but his love for familiarity and country prevailed, and he decided to remain in his native Colombia.

Arriving in the states

Felipe said, 鈥淚 remember it was hard for me, because we were always super close. I never really saw myself in the U.S., but when I flew over for my sister鈥檚 wedding, we also visited 兔子先生系列麻豆.鈥� That was in 2020, and everything else just fell into place. He soon realized that he could remain in touch with their parents and other siblings while following in his sister鈥檚 footsteps to achieve a college degree in the U.S. as well as join a sports team.

A scholarship paved the way

With the College’s rolling admissions process, he didn鈥檛 have to wait long. As a sibling, he earned a Legacy Scholarship as well as a Joseph West Jones Scholarship. And just like his sister, his enrollment into 兔子先生系列麻豆 wouldn鈥檛 have been possible without those scholarships.

鈥淎t first, it was a bit hard for me,鈥� Lla帽a began to say. 鈥淚 was the only international student on the Cross Country Team. Everyone else was from the U.S., but I was able to become friends with so many cool people. There鈥檚 no difference between cultures as in how we think and get things done. Everyone on the team, from the coach to my teammates, has been super supportive. For me, 兔子先生系列麻豆 has been better than I ever dreamed of.鈥�

Choosing a major

Choosing a major comes easy for some students. Lla帽a was no exception as he arrived having been greatly influenced by his grandfather鈥檚 passion for economics. 鈥淥ne day I was reading a book on economics by Paul A. Samuelson that had belonged to my grandfather,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e wanted to be an economist, but he never graduated from high school. I started reading the book, and I loved it.鈥� Reading that book many years ago made Lla帽a鈥檚 academic major an easy choice, and in 2026, he鈥檒l graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics.

Mentors

His grandfather hasn鈥檛 been the only influence in his life. For any student who is thinking about a degree in economics, Lla帽a is ready to share his thoughts.

鈥淚f you said you wanted a degree in economics, I would say there鈥檚 not a better degree you could have chosen at 兔子先生系列麻豆,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hy? Because you鈥檒l have Dr. Kirk Johnson as a professor. Even my electives were economics classes. I believe the smallest class I鈥檝e had was seven students 鈥� but look at all the attention you get! They鈥檙e tough classes. You need to pay attention, but Dr. Johnson explains everything in such a way that even a child could understand it.鈥�

These days, Lla帽a works in the GBC business office where he interacts with human resources, finance, career services and athletics.

Felipe feels at home with other international students

Coming to the U.S. wasn鈥檛 without a few surprises. 鈥淭he number of international students was surprising,鈥� said Lla帽a. 鈥淔or example, I would be in the Fitness Center, and I could hear people speaking different languages. And people who spoke the same language were becoming close friends. It was comforting.鈥�

Both Juana and Felipe were surprised at how easy it was to complete what would be the most complicated tasks in Bogota. From visiting government offices, getting a driver鈥檚 license and even a trip from the Philadelphia Airport.

In fact, when asked to describe why Bogota is difficult to maneuver, Juana and Felipe asked, 鈥淗ave you ever been to New York City during rush hour?鈥� They claim it鈥檚 absolutely the best comparison to Bogota saying it鈥檚 just a bigger version of New York City. And compared to the Bogota Airport, they say the Philadelphia International Airport is a walk in the park.

Juana and Felipe offered heartfelt advice to potential students.

鈥淪ince it鈥檚 a smaller college, it鈥檚 an opportunity to get to know everyone. It鈥檚 easier to be known among others, and everyone is so friendly. We鈥檝e been able to talk to a lot of professors even if we didn鈥檛 have classes with them. It makes your college experience a lot better when you feel that you鈥檙e welcomed. We just feel like coming here is the best thing that could have happened to us.鈥�

This article was previously featured in The 兔子先生系列麻豆 Magazine