Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

After identifying herself as from Micronesia, a student frequently answers questions with a practiced response: “It’s a group of islands midway between Hawaii and Australia.” Despite believing that she doesn't face the same challenges as many international students at St. John's, Kéavae still experiences a shared responsibility to act as a representative of her country.

She attributes her ease of life in the United States to the Compact of Free Association between the US and Micronesia, which allows citizens from Micronesia to live in the United States without a visa. Additionally, as English is her first language, she bypasses another common hurdle faced by many international peers.

Addressing the shared role of being an ambassador for her nation, Kéavae acknowledges, “In most of our cases, we are the only real way that our colleagues in the US will truly interact on a personal level with our countries.” This sense of responsibility was drilled into her from a young age by her family.

Kéavae recounts an experience during her international orientation at St. John’s University. While speaking with a school administrator, she introduced herself in her usual way: “My name’s Kéavae and I’m from Micronesia.” This revelation excited the administrator who exclaimed, “You probably don’t know this, but you’re famous.” The school staff had been searching for her since they noticed her flag during her freshman year in the fall.

Her presence at the university led to an invitation to speak at the global gathering event during International Education Week, and ultimately to the opportunity to write for the school publication. She reflects on seeing her flag, realizing, “It was me on display for the whole of this new world to see.”

Kéavae remarks on the significance of the flag not just being a piece of cloth waving in September, but “that I was worth being recognized.” Emphasizing her role as an ambassador, she believes it to be “a medal of honor meant to lift up a nation.”