For many college students, summer is a time to kick back and relax. But Angelou Revil Pacia, a junior from the Philippines studying psychology and political science at BYU–Hawaii, is spending her summer researching policy and developing legislative proposals at the Hawaii Senate.
Finding BYU–Hawaii
Before coming to BYU–Hawaii, Pacia attended one of the largest universities in her country, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, a public research university where she studied public administration, though she only participated online due to the pandemic. Having recently returned from a mission in Cebu, Philippines, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in August 2021, she felt there was something spiritual missing in these online classes. At the suggestion of her bishop, Pacia enrolled in BYU Pathway Worldwide.
“One of my instructors told me that after completing Pathway, I would have a good opportunity to continue my education at one of the CES schools,” she shared. “I originally considered BYU, but I chose BYU–Hawaii because of the opportunity to work while studying through IWORK. As the youngest in my family, with my father having worked abroad since I was seven years old, I felt it was time for me to become more independent."
“I also chose BYU–Hawaii because I grew up as a member of the Church and my faith is very important to me,” she continued. “I wanted to study in an environment where I could be surrounded by people who share the same values and beliefs while continuing to strengthen my testimony."
For Pacia, choosing BYU–Hawaii was about more than earning a degree — it was an opportunity to grow spiritually, become more independent, and prepare for the future in an environment centered on faith and shared values.
Growing Through Leadership
As she continues to pursue her dreams at BYU–Hawaii, she is becoming more aware of leadership opportunities available to her.
“I want to become a peace ambassador, and I hope to work in public service, promote peace, and help build understanding among people from different backgrounds and communities,” she said. “The university has given me programs and experiences that help me work toward that goal."
In addition to serving as an officer in the BYU–Hawaii Pre-Law Society, Pacia has taken advantage of other opportunities the university has provided, which consisted of two academic trips. The first took her to Thailand for the 5th Global Peace Summit organized by Humanitarian Affairs Asia at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, and more recently, she traveled to BYU in Provo, Utah for the Religious Freedom Annual Review.
"BYU–Hawaii encourages us to develop leadership skills, build meaningful connections, and pursue our goals,” Pacia said. "Aside from being a tour guide at PCC, I’m currently serving as an Operations Lead in the Guest Services Department while balancing school and marriage. Juggling all of these responsibilities has helped me mature in ways I didn't expect. It taught me time management, responsibility, and how to balance multiple commitments."
The Hawaii Senate Internship
Pacia is currently completing a summer internship with the Hawaiʻi State Senate Minority Research Office from June 29 through September 1.
“Our role is to research issues for senators,” she said. “Each intern researches policy issues throughout the summer and develops recommendations that could potentially contribute to future legislation.
For Pacia, she says this internship experience has allowed her to apply what she has learned in the classroom at BYU–Hawaii to real-world situations.
"My research focuses on religious freedom,” she said. “I spend my time researching those topics and developing policy ideas that could become bills in the future. It's exciting because at the end of our internship, we will present our research findings and policy recommendations to legislative members and senators for their consideration.”
Since 2026 is election year in Hawaii, part of Pacia’s role includes researching candidates running for office and sharing nonpartisan informational content on social media to help keep the public informed.
"I enjoy research and learning new information,” she said. “This internship has given me the opportunity to apply my research and legal writing skills in a real-world setting."
Prepared to Serve
As Pacia continues her education and internship experience, she hopes to use the knowledge and leadership skills she has gained at BYU–Hawaii to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Whether through public service, the legal profession, or in her everyday interactions, her goal is to lead with faith, serve with purpose, and return home prepared to positively impact her community.
