08/30/2026
Humans of Wesleyan 🎬3️⃣4️⃣
"I was 17 when I moved from Manila, Philippines, to Middletown, Connecticut. A few friends ahead of me had gone to college in the US and told me how great it was. I had become fascinated by biology in high school, so I thought studying abroad might open a path for me in science.
Before I arrived, all I knew about Wesleyan came from the website and the materials tucked into my admissions packet. I had no idea what an adventure it would become, or where life would take me.
Wes certainly nurtured my love of science. I joined a research lab in the molecular biology and biochemistry department and, for a long time, imagined academia would be my future. But Wes also nurtured other parts of me, including my love of singing. I joined the Wesleyan Spirits, and friends from my time with the Spirits remain some of my closest today. Beyond that, I found a place that seemed to take two things seriously: that people should feel like they belong, and that it was okay to ask questions. You could be many things at once, and you certainly didn’t have to fit neatly into one box.
Today, I’m a Catholic priest with the Paulist Fathers, probably not the most typical path for a Wesleyan grad! I stayed in academia for years post-Wes before making the turn toward ministry. What drew me to the Paulists was how they created room for people, especially those who weren’t sure they had a place in the Church, and their hope-filled trust that there is still so much good in the world. In a way, it felt very Wes to me. There was the same invitation to be curious, to welcome people as they are, and to live with a certain authenticity that honors the giftedness of every person.
I owe a lot of who I am today to my time in Middletown. I certainly never imagined at 17 that this is where life would lead me. But Wesleyan gave me the courage to believe that it was worth trying to become the person you’re meant to be, even if that means doing something a little unconventional. It taught me to stay curious, to be open to where life might lead, and, maybe most importantly, to try to be a person for others."
- Rev. Dan Macalinao, CSP PhD '08
