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Sarah M. Vazquez

Biography

PROFILE: As a foster child who moved frequently, Sarah Vazquez found that “the only stability I really had was education.” Later Sarah became disabled and was unable to work.. “The experience taught me the value of patience and the ability to find the more subtle opportunities in life.” She pursued a certificate in developmental disabilities support at Holyoke Community College and worked for more than three years with the developmentally disabled as a direct care specialist and case manager.

While enrolled in the human services program at Holyoke, Sarah developed empathy training now used at a community services agency to train staff. She also wrote a story about the life of a girl with developmental disabilities that was published in The National Organization of Human Service Educators Journal. Sarah went on to pursue a liberal arts track at Holyoke Community College and discovered a passion for philosophy.

INSPIRATION: A community college course in philosophy inspired Sarah to examine “what I thought I knew, and how I had identified myself in relation to the world.” Chiefly, she realized that if she became a professor, she would have the chance to inspire others in their pursuit of knowledge.

ASPIRATION: Sarah aspires to teach philosophy as a college professor, opening young minds to a more global perspective. “In light of global warming and other anthropogenic crises, I feel it would be of great benefit to educate people about interconnectedness and naturalistic worldviews.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Volunteerism has long been a part of Sarah’s daily life. Her community service has focused largely on the elderly and people with disabilities. “Because I know what it feels like to be devalued, labeled, stigmatized and alone, I feel that advocacy for such individuals is imperative.” She is also active in supporting environmental causes.

ACCOLADES: Sarah is only the third recipient in 60 years of Holyoke Community College’s M. Sykovich Award for outstanding work in philosophy and is the first student from the college to receive a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Transfer Scholarship. She made the National Dean’s List and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa.

INTERESTING FACT: Sarah can imitate almost any accent.

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