Alumnus Shares SHU Impact in Black History Month Series
Paul Herman reflects on his experience at Sacred Heart and its effect on his life
Sacred Heart University invited alumnus Paul Herman ’04, to share SHU’s impact on his life for the first session of Wisdom Wednesday, a new series for Black History Month.
Wisdom Wednesday takes place every Wednesday in February at the multicultural center. Each week’s program features a different theme.
The first program opened with a screening of the video With a Piece of Chalk by Juba Films. This short film depicts a young child overcoming obstacles to discover an outlet through which he could prosper. Then Herman began his talk, noting first how much Sacred Heart has grown since his graduation in 2004. The multicultural center, which was based in a room within Hawley lounge at the time, was his “safe space.” He explained that when he first came to SHU, he went home every weekend to the Bronx, NY, until his father told him to stop. As an alternative, he said, his father encouraged him to learn a new culture and to immerse himself in SHU’s atmosphere, so he got involved any way he could. He became captain of the University’s Division 1 track & field team, joined La-Hispanidad club, Omega Phi Kappa multicultural fraternity and campus ministry. He also won the Mr. SHU title twice.
Afterward, he pursued his passion for dancing and now owns Double Up Dance Studio in Fairfield.
Herman had some advice for the students who attended his talk. “Set realistic goals that challenge you to excel. I'm focused on living out my dream of inspiring people and promoting diversity through music and movement,” Herman said. “They may never understand you; they may never appreciate you; they may never believe in you; they may never congratulate you; they may never be happy for you. So, focus your energy on understanding, appreciating, believing, congratulating and being happy for yourself.”
Herman focused on the importance of being “the captain of your own ship.” His safe space today is wherever he goes, he said, and people should go where they are accepted, not just tolerated. He shared how his involvement and the connections he made at SHU created many opportunities for him and advised that anyone who wants to be successful must speak up. To be a leader, people have to showcase diversity and the meaning of an inclusive environment, he said.
He also emphasized that energy can be the most important thing in a room and asked his audience to reflect and remember their “why,” because everyone is unique and valuable but must remember to value themselves first.
Herman concluded by telling the audience, “Every day is not just for you; it’s for someone else, because someone always comes before someone else. No one ever knows the impact they will have until that day comes.”
Herman’s encouragement and advice had an impact on his audience, such as Chnoa-Nadine Manso-Vargas ’23. “This talk was honestly very educational and motivational. As a student of color on campus, I feel this was something that reached out to me on a personal level,” Manso-Vargas said. “I feel like being able to be motivated by another person that had a similar experience to me at Sacred Heart has posed such a great benefit and has really uplifted me and encouraged me to continue doing what I’m doing and that there is a purpose.”
He also struck a chord with Jennifer Bueti ’24, who said, “Paul’s speech inspired me to reach out of my comfort zone.”