Gabe Chavez – A Lasting Legacy

Gabe Chavez – Junior

Tacares, Costa Rica

Gabe Chaves came to Florida College from Costa Rica in order to get a good education and a good job to support his family. He also hopes to share the gospel with others through preaching. “I think that because I speak two languages and I’m not afraid of speaking in front of people, I have to preach,” Gabe said. “Just because I want a job doesn’t mean I don’t also want to pursue preaching.” Gabe is currently serving as a preaching intern at the North Terrace Church of Christ in Tampa, Florida, and plans to preach at his local congregation while he is home in Costa Rica over the summer break. It wasn’t until 2012 that Gabe and his family heard the gospel from some visiting preachers and were baptized. The same preachers suggested that Gabe should come to Florida College, but he was originally apprehensive about going to school so far from his family. Once Gabe arrived on campus, the growth he experienced outweighed the difficulty of being far from his home.

“I feel like I’m a more responsible and spiritually strong person than I was when I came here,” Gabe said. “When you are more spiritually mature, you want to express Christ’s love to everyone.”

One of the ways Gabe has chosen to express Christ’s love is through involvement and service on campus.

“When I first came here, I could’ve chosen to focus on school, but Florida College gives you opportunities to serve in so many different ways,” Gabe said.

Gabe has been an active member of Omega Chi and was elected as the Vice President last year. He has also served on the SBGA as both sophomore class president and the junior and senior class president.

In addition to his active service on campus, Gabe is studying in the organizational communication program at Florida College. He is interested in public relations, advertising and human resources, but his real dream is to become a movie director.

“I’d love to be a movie director and make movies, and I’m not that bad at it,” Gabe said.

Gabe has entered his own films in the annual Film Festival hosted by the Florida College Footlighters and has received several awards for his efforts. Last year, Gabe’s film was recognized with four of the total six awards.

Although he was originally hesitant about coming to Florida College, the growth Gabe has experienced during his time on campus makes him confident he made the right choice.

“Frankly I don’t know where I would be without Florida College,” Gabe said. “Without the Adopt Program, I wouldn’t even be here at Florida College. You could say that my experience with the Adopt Program is a blessing, and it is one that I don’t take for granted. There aren’t many people who are as blessed as I am.”