Ariel Bean is a mother, wife, granddaughter, student and colleague—titles she holds proudly. She prioritizes her daughters above all else. Being a mother has given her a new lease on life, and her daughters are her main motivation for attending school. Originally a Japanese major, she switched her major to organizational leadership, hoping to open a comic book shop one day.
Bean has proven time and time again that it’s okay to go back to the drawing board, especially when your goals change. Knowing that her two daughters are looking up to her, she wants them to see her succeed so they understand that it’s never too late to reach for their dreams.
Bean’s late grandmother told stories about not being able to finish elementary school in the 1920s due to the economic struggles during that time. With this in mind, Bean told herself that if she ever got the chance to go to school, she would make the most of it.
Today, Bean is a student worker at the Veteran Center. She is also an active member of TRIO, Triton Vets, and the Japan-America Student Association (JASA). These organizations have become places where Ariel can find connections, guidance and comfortable study spots.
The Veteran Center has become more than the place where she works but also where she’s found lasting connections. While not many people are aware of all that the veteran center has to offer, the office helps veterans or family members of veterans who receive military benefits.
Like The Veteran Center, TRIO is a program that helps students with life coaching, academic coaching and financial advice, though it’s not limited to students with a connection to the military. TRIO can also assist with filling out scholarship and grant applications.
The Japan-America Student Association allows Ariel to study Japanese, a language she is still learning despite changing majors. Bean says that Professors Hiroko Yoshi and Keiko Ueda have gone above and beyond to push her and help her succeed. She credits them for helping her reach her biggest academic achievement so far–passing her Japanese language classes.
Ariel Bean is a hard-working student who balances many titles on her plate. The one thing she wished someone would have told her as a freshman was not to take on too much at once. It’s ok to say “no” every so often as the world has a lot to present, but not every offer is a fit. Bean also says that there are people out there who won’t understand your art, but that doesn’t mean your art is wrong. Just show it to the right people, and you will succeed. In simpler terms, Bean says to never give up.
