Learning to lead

Sarah Varela graduating with bachelor’s in business administration

By California State University, Bakersfield

May 12^th, 2023

Sarah Varela was studying at Biola University in Los Angeles in 2018 when she received news that would change her life and her higher education journey forever — her mother, Carmen, had just been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

“When I learned my mom could be dead in six months, it just shook my whole life,” she said. “That changed my mindset from just thinking about myself to thinking about others, and how they really impact your life.”

Varela dropped everything and moved back home to Bakersfield to be closer to her mother and help with her care. She began attending Bakersfield College in 2019 and received an Emergency Medical Technician certificate. She then transferred to California State University, Bakersfield in 2021.

Now, two years later, Carmen’s tumor has stopped growing and her health has improved as her daughter is preparing to graduate this month from CSUB with her bachelor’s in business administration.

Varela won’t be saying goodbye to the university just yet, however, as she plans to begin the MBA program this fall.

“I’m excited. I can’t wait,” she said about graduating. “At the same time, I don’t feel like I’m graduating yet, since I’ve applied for my master’s.”

Leaving school in L.A. to come back home and help her dad and brother care for her mom was challenging for Varela, especially that first year when she was still adjusting to the new situation.

Varela began suffering from depression after she returned home, as she struggled with juggling her mom’s care as well as her work and school responsibilities.

“I was failing classes, even basic ones, because I couldn’t always show up and I wasn’t in the most flexible jobs,” she said. “I wanted to make sure I was available in case she needed anything and to give her emotional support. Sometimes it was a challenge trying not to get frustrated with her, like when she would forget things.”

Varela’s grades began improving after that first year. By the time she began attending CSUB, she felt her mental health was in a good place.

Carmen is excited to see her daughter overcome these challenges and persevere through to graduation.

“I’m so proud of her after everything she’s gone through,” she said. “She just flourished at the school, and now everything is coming together.”

Becoming a leader

Varela didn’t originally plan to attend CSUB, but she said it has been a great experience for her, not only academically but also because of the connections she’s been able to make with other students.

“It’s been fantastic,” she said. “The teachers really care about the students and how they’re doing. The students have been great. Everybody is so encouraging, so inclusive. I’ve been able to find people I can connect with — people I didn’t expect to connect with.”

A large source of that connection has been her involvement with various organizations on campus. Varela is a secretary for the CSUB chapter of the National Society for Leadership Success, a skill-building and leadership development program. She is also treasurer for the Society for Human Resource Management chapter on campus.

“I was really interested because I could grow myself as a leader but also help people,” she said.

Varela also signed up this year to be one of 80 CSUB fellows in the new #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program, through which the state pays undergraduate students up to $10,000 in stipends toward their degree when they commit to a year of community service, either on or off campus.

Varela has been working with the Basic Needs Department at CSUB as part of the program, specifically to support the Food Pantry and Edible Garden.

“It’s been wonderful,” she said. “I’ve been able to not only get financial support to help pay for school but also volunteer for the community. College Corps was an opportunity to be able to provide not only for myself but also for others. It’s an amazing program.”

Katrina Gilmore, director of CSUB’s Center for Career Education and Community Engagement, said Varela has been an integral part of the College Corps team at the university.

“From the very beginning of the College Corps program, Sarah has exhibited leadership and initiative,” she said. “She’s an excellent student in BPA and a hard-working College Corps fellow whose service has assisted the campus community with food security. She is a shining example of a CSUB Roadrunner!”

‘Business administration is my passion’

While these programs and organizations have been a major part of Varela’s experience at CSUB, her academics have remained a major focus. Upon transferring to CSUB, she knew right away that she wanted to pursue a business degree.

“Business administration is my passion. That’s what I’m good at, where my strengths are. I love being able to take a problem and provide a solution that helps everyone in a way that feels inclusive,” she said. “Luckily, CSUB has an amazing business school. It’s been an amazing resource for me.”

One of the highlights of the business program for her was last spring when, as part of her Diversity in Organizations class, she was one of nine students who went on a trip to the East Coast led by Professor David Olson.

As part of the eight-day trip, the students had the opportunity to learn more about the history, culture and diversity of organizations and businesses in New York, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.

The Washington D.C. portion of the trip had personal significance for Varela, as her father David proposed to her mother there. While Varela initially believed the proposal took place near the Lincoln Memorial, her mother told her she remembered it actually happened near the tidal basin.

During the group’s visit to the Lincoln Memorial, Varela said Dr. Olson personally walked her about two miles to where the proposal spot was.

“We were able to FaceTime with my parents and show them right where it was, and it made my mom so happy,” she said. “I’m so grateful that [Dr. Olson] was willing to go out of his way to take me there.”

Dr. Olson said Varela has been a great student and that he was happy to accompany her to the proposal spot.

“Sarah was, and is, one of my top students at CSUB,” he said. “She is always looking for ways to help other students to find their best path, so it was particularly special when I was able to help her to find her path to the exact location in Washington D.C. where her parents got engaged.”

'A mentor and leader'

Looking back at her time at CSUB so far, what stands out most to Varela is the people — employees as well as her fellow students.

“It’s amazing to have so many different perspectives,” she said. “I’ve been able to open my eyes far more than I did before. I am far less narrow-minded, although I definitely have a lot more to learn.”

Varela expects to return to CSUB this fall to begin her master’s program, but she already has ideas on what she would like to do with her career. She ultimately wants to lead a company and is considering nonprofit work.

“I’m more of a big-picture thinker, and I understand the various aspects of business, not just one part of it, so I know I would be better in an upper-level position,” she said.

Varela believes her experiences at CSUB and with College Corps have helped clarify for her what kind of business manager she wants to be.

“I want to be a mentor and leader, not just a boss. My style is more as a servant leader, where I want to be working next to people,” she said. “I want to be the person who’s in the front leading the charge helping to pull the load, not just standing on top of it.”

Carmen Varela said she’s looking forward to seeing what her daughter ultimately decides to do with her career.

“I hope she lands in a place where she can really be effective and enjoy what she does,” she said. “As a mom, I’m very proud of how much she’s grown from where she was five years ago to where she is now. She has come a long way and she’s doing great. She’s very determined to move forward.”