Johan Carballo

Johan Carballo’s nominator tells this story: “I walked into my chemistry class not knowing anyone. I sat in the third row, hoping I would someday have a friend to sit next to. Someone sitting in the front row turned back and introduced himself. ‘Hi, I'm Johan,’ he said. And that is how our friendship started. Johan is the curious type. He is the one who initiates interactions. He is the one who is excited about the experiments we do in class. He is the one who is interested in what is going on in this world and he wants to help those he can. He is a man of big dreams. He has an unlimited thirst for knowledge.”

Johan said, “As a first-generation college student it is important to be curious, while also sharing those opportunities with others. Virginia Tech is an environment that cultivates curiosity through creativity, science, arts, innovation, and more. All around there are a variety of perspectives, ideas, and information. This environment challenges and pushes me to be curious -- to learn more, to help more, to strive higher. Not everyone has the same opportunities. We are fortunate.”

Johan is a junior majoring in Clinical Neuroscience and hopes to become a surgeon. He is Senior Resident Advisor at the Creativity and Innovation District, he lived in the VIA Living-Learning Community, and worked for Dining Services. He is very active in the Hispanic/LatinX community at Virginia Tech. He is an undergraduate teaching assistant. He is a Commonwealth Scholar, and a member of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students at Virginia Tech. His volunteer activities include advocating for immigrant rights, mentoring high school students, and social justice awareness programs.

Oh, and one more thing -- he plays trumpet in The Marching Virginians.

Johan said, “Virginia Tech is a community that has allowed me to flourish in my curiosity. I have been able to nurture my curiosity through simply collaborating with others -- through academics, extracurricular activities, research, and participating in programs that are essential towards my future goals. My parents stressed the importance of education and planted the seed for the love of learning in my life. Curiosity to me means being eager to learn -- through the lows and highs -- being excited to explore more about our individual passions and helping pass our knowledge to others.”

Johan said he hopes to continue not only practicing curiosity, but also embodying the other Aspirations for Student Learning.

Johan, for your sheer love of learning, for helping others along the way, and for introducing yourself to your nominator that first day in chemistry class, I am proud to present to Johan Carballo the Aspire! Award for CURIOSITY.