Willing to Take a Chance
Leaving home for college can be a scary venture for any student. But imagine leaving your home, traveling thousands of miles away, and going to a place where you barely know the language and don’t know anyone.
That was the challenge Pampa Raffin faced three years ago when he made the decision to leave his native Cordoba, Argentina, and come to Midland University.
“I needed to be brave. You are leaving everything you know and jumping into the unknown. I wasn’t sure how it would all work out, but I had to try it.”
The chance to continue his career as a pole vaulter sparked his interest in Midland, and after visits with (assistant track and field coach) Joel Leindecker, Pampa knew Midland could offer him what he was looking for in a college.
“Coach Leindecker was a former vaulter, and I knew I would have the opportunity to grow as an athlete with him as a coach. I also knew Midland was a good business school, and I got offered a great scholarship. In the end, it was the right choice for me.”
That choice didn’t come without some hesitation though, especially after he arrived in a new country and was struggling to learn a new language. “My English was a little rough. I had all kinds of doubt in the beginning, especially when you walk around campus and don’t see many people like yourself.”
He soon found a common bond with other international students across campus, many of whom he was teammates with on the track and field squad. While the Global Warriors organization was still in its early stages, he found a sense of comfort in being around other students who walked the same path he did.
“There were other international students who came in the same time I did, and we’ve all supported each other and gone through this together. It’s been important to have that support and keep pushing each other. I now have friends from many different countries and have met them all at Midland.”
Global Warriors has now grown to more than 20 members and Pampa currently serves as the group’s president. “We weren’t a big group when I first joined, but we’ve gone through a transition process to get us where we are today. I hope I can be a role model for other international students that come here.”
Pampa often jokes that people think he’s been here longer than three years, probably because his campus involvement includes not only pole vaulting and Global Warriors, but Student Senate, Residence Hall Director, Campus Security, and working in the Learning Lab.
“It’s a little surprising that in under three years, I’ve become this involved. It has helped build my confidence to see everything that I have accomplished, but there’s also some pressure behind that because people see me as a role model.”
On top of all that, he’s currently working as an intern at the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce, which is under the direction of Brenda Wilberding, former Career Studio director at Midland. “It’s been great to work with Brenda, and I’ve had the opportunity to connect with the Hispanic community through the Spanish Networking group. It’s been great to apply what I have learned in the classroom into real life, and also learn about the community outside of Midland.”
A Business Administration major, Pampa is keeping the door open for whatever possibilities lie ahead after graduation in May of 2026. “I like organizing events and helping with marketing, but I’m also interested in Business Intelligence & Technology classes and the data behind that. Everything in the business world is fascinating to me, and I want to be as well-rounded as I can.
Pampa isn’t sure if his future involves a return to Argentina, but he does know that his time at Midland has him well-prepared for wherever he winds up. “One of the reasons I came here was because I knew I would have more opportunities than if I had stayed in Argentina. No matter where I end up, life would not have been the same for me if I had stayed. I have experienced a lot, and learned a lot.”
Pampa Raffin is a junior Business Administration major from Cordoba, Argentina.
