Juan Carlos De los Reyes: Crafting Stories and Shaping Futures at BYU-Hawaii

Meet Juan Carlos De los Reyes, a multifaceted Brigham Young University-Hawaii (BYU-H) student. He combines his passion for journalism, creative writing, social work, and psychology.

Juan Carlos is dedicated to making a meaningful impact on his community. His diverse interests and talents enable him to contribute in various ways.

Experience and Role at BYU-Hawaii

Previous Role at the Polynesian Cultural Center
Balancing Spiritual Matters and Interests in Film, TV, and Comics
Education Journey

Plans After Graduation
Cultural and Linguistic Skills
Integration of Social Work and Psychology

Community Engagement and Impact
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Experience and Role at BYU-Hawaii

As a News Journalist for BYU-H News, Juan Carlos is pivotal in documenting significant events and crafting inspiring student spotlights. “My role is exactly what it says on the tin. The job is two-fold; first, I document, interview, and write about events related to Brigham Young University–Hawaii that mainly tackle once-in-a-lifetime things, sometimes announcements. Second, I write spotlights about students with inspiring stories, significant graduates, and faculty members with outstanding merits,” he explains.

This experience has honed his storytelling skills, allowing him to create compelling narratives that resonate with readers. “Meeting and interviewing all these people has allowed me to witness and explore many different backgrounds and cultures, helping me write characters in my fictional stories as realistic as possible,” Juan Carlos shares.

Juan Carlos De los Reyes

Previous Role at the Polynesian Cultural Center

Before his current role, Juan Carlos was a Multi-Purpose Tour Guide at the Polynesian Cultural Center. He fondly recalls his interactions with diverse guests from around the world. “It’s always been the people. Being exposed to different types of guests every day from all around the world helped me get to know their lives through their backgrounds, their stories, their families, and, of course, our time together during the tour,” he says.

His time as a tour guide also reshaped his perspective on tourism and customer service. “I now understand tourism essentially less as ‘vacation time’ and more as meeting our brothers and sisters from around the globe,” he adds.

Balancing Spiritual Matters and Interests in Film, TV, and Comics

Through effective time management, Juan Carlos finds a harmonious balance between his spiritual life and his love for films, TV, and comics. “Part of the day will be me reading scriptures or listening to talks from the living prophets and apostles, and part of it will be me watching films, TV shows, reading comics, or playing video games,” he describes.

These diverse interests have significantly influenced his writing style. “Being exposed to the ‘fandom’ world and being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints allowed me to do the current project I am working on—a full-length novel that is in the genre of superheroes, action, and romance from the perspective of a Latter-day Saint,” he reveals.

Education Journey

Transitioning from Filamer Christian University (FCU) to BYU-H was a spiritually enriching experience for Juan Carlos. “The transition was relatively easy because as much as I loved FCU, I was already looking for a way to strengthen my spiritual connection to the Lord Jesus Christ,” he reflects. His academic journey has evolved, intertwining his interests in Creative Writing, Social Work, and Psychology.

Plans After Graduation

Juan Carlos has clear aspirations for the future. “To hopefully publish all my creative works as novels, help other people through Social Work, and marry the love of my life who’s waiting for me back home in the Philippines,” he states enthusiastically. He also plans to continue his Journalism career in the Philippines, focusing on stories about the people of Panay and Negros.

Cultural and Linguistic Skills

Proficient in both English and Filipino, Juan Carlos values the connections he’s made through his linguistic abilities. “I’ve only spent a day with most of my guests, but the connection I have with them after a five-hour tour made me feel that I’ve known them my entire life,” he notes.

Juan Carlos envisions his social work and psychology studies as enhancing his writing. “Psychology helps me get to know people better, especially what’s on their mind. That applies to my career path as a future social worker,” he explains. He is passionate about themes of hope and the indomitable human spirit in his storytelling.

Community Engagement and Impact

Through his work, Juan Carlos aims to inspire and uplift his community. “I expect my stories (both fiction and non-fiction) to warm the hearts of my readers by giving them hope and enjoyment as they navigate their lives,” he hopes. His commitment to addressing social issues through storytelling underscores his dedication to positively impacting society.

Juan Carlos De los Reyes exemplifies the spirit of BYU-H. He blends his academic pursuits with his passion for storytelling to create a lasting influence both locally and globally.

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