We asked a series of reflection questions to Noeh Deo G. V. Sequeira, a student in his final year at Colégio St. Inácio de Loiola (CSIL) in Kasait. We are proud to share his reflections with you and hope that reading about his experiences will inspire all of you our readers: friends, donors, Jesuits and benefactors who always stay connected with us through this newsletter.

• What do I like most about being a student in a Jesuit Institution?

For me, being a recipient of Jesuit education as a student at CSIL has shaped me in ways I never expected. Jesuit education is not just about attending classes or getting good grades. What I appreciate most is how the Jesuits don’t just teach us what to think, but how to live.

They have challenged me academically, yes, but they have also pushed me to grow in character. Through retreats, reflections, and the Ignatian way of seeing the world, I have learned to slow down, look inward, and ask myself who I want to become. Saint Ignatius’ teachings about striving for the good, choosing the better path, and setting the world on fire with our hearts have become real for me, not just something we memorize.

Values like the Magis and Cura Personalis are not just fancy Latin words anymore. Striving for the Magis reminds me to give a little more of myself—not to be perfect, but to keep growing. Cura Personalis teaches me to care for others in a deeper, more human way, to see fellow students as whole persons and not just classmates passing by.

Being part of this community has helped me understand what it means to be “a person for and with others.” It has shown me that leadership is not about being the loudest voice but the most compassionate one. And honestly, that is something I will carry with me long after I graduate.

• How do I want to see myself after graduating from CSIL and why so?

If I’m being honest with myself, I don’t have everything figured out yet. Graduation is close, but life still feels like this huge open road I am only starting to step into. And honestly, that used to scare me. But what I have learned at CSIL  through Ignatian reflection, retreats, and all the moments that pushed me to look deeper is that it is okay not to have the whole road mapped out. What matters is knowing the direction your heart is pulling you toward.

When I imagine myself after graduating from CSIL, I see someone still growing, still searching, but no longer afraid of that search. I want to see myself as someone who listens to that inner voice God placed in me, someone who chooses the path that feels true, not just the path others expect.

One of those paths I am drawn to is acting. I know it is not the usual choice for someone from East Timor, and it is definitely not the easiest road. But when I picture my future, that is where I see the most honest version of myself—the version that is alive, expressive, and fully me. It feels like the place where my gifts and my passion actually meet.

And that is where the Ignatian values come in. The Magis reminds me to seek the “more”, not more achievements, but a deeper purpose, a fuller version of myself. Cura Personalis teaches me to care for who I truly am, not who I pretend to be. And being ‘a person for and with others’ helps me remember that whatever path I choose, it should bring light to the people around me.

So how do I want to see myself after graduating? As someone brave enough to follow the path that is true to him. Someone willing to explore, learn, and keep discovering who he is becoming. Someone who carries the Ignatian spirit into whatever future he chooses even if that future is standing on a stage or in front of a camera, telling stories that mean something. That is the version of Noeh I hope to grow into.

• What will I do with all the knowledge and wisdom I learned at CSIL?

Everything I have learned at CSIL—the knowledge, the discipline, the way of reflecting before acting—has shaped how I see the world and what I want to do with my life. And when I sit with all of that, the one thing I keep coming back to is this desire to give something back. I want to use whatever gifts I have been given to help others, whether that is through my talent, my time, or even just the way I show up for people.

I honestly believe God placed me here for a reason. Not in a dramatic way, but in a quiet, steady way like a calling that grows stronger the more I pay attention to it. CSIL helped me notice that. Through Ignatian reflection, I learned to look at my life and ask: “Where am I being invited to serve? How can my life lift someone else up?”

Values like being a person for and with others guide me a lot. It reminds me that whatever path I choose, even acting, is not just about me chasing a dream. It is also about how I can inspire, comfort, or move people through the stories I tell. The Magis pushes me to go deeper, to not settle for surface-level success but to aim for a purpose that actually matters. And Cura Personalis helps me stay grounded, reminding me that caring for others starts with caring for who I am becoming.

So with everything I have learned at CSIL, my focus is simple: to share what I have been given. To use my abilities in a way that makes someone else’s life a little brighter. And if God keeps guiding me in that direction, then I am exactly where I am meant to be, walking a path that feels true, meaningful, and deeply connected to the person I am trying to grow into.

• What is my desire as a young Timorese person?

As part of Timor’s younger generation, I carry a desire that goes beyond personal ambition. I want to serve. I want to lift up the people of this land and help my fellow young Timorese see that we are more than the struggles we have inherited. We are the future our heroes fought for, the future they dreamed of from the mountains, the forests, and the shadows of war. Our parents and grandparents survived so that we could live. Not just breathe, but imagine. Not just hope, but build. And I believe our generation has the responsibility to honor that sacrifice by showing the world who we truly are: a nation rich in culture, history, resilience, and heart. The values I have learned from Ignatian tradition guide this desire. To be a person for and with others. To lead with gratitude and compassion. To seek the deeper meaning in every action asking not “What do I want?” but “Who am I becoming?” and “Whom does this serve?” Ignatian spirituality reminds me that real greatness is not measured by fame or wealth, but by how we use our gifts to uplift those around us.

My deepest aspiration is to make Timor-Leste proud by living these values every day. By pursuing excellence not for my own spotlight, but so that our nation’s light shines a little brighter. By being courageous in the face of uncertainty, reflective in moments of doubt, and generous with whatever opportunities come my way. If I can inspire even one other young Timorese to believe in their own potential to love this country enough to serve it  then I’ve already succeeded. Because the future of Timor-Leste will not be built by one person. It will be built by all of us, choosing, step by step, to rise together.

• What are the concrete actions I need to take to contribute to my country and its people ?

The concrete actions I hope to take for my country begin with something simple: offering what I have. My talents, my voice, my energy, and the small gifts God has given me I want to use all of it in service of Timor-Leste. I believe our nation grows when each of us chooses to give the best part of ourselves back to the people who shaped us.

For me, that means using my abilities to inspire others, especially the young. It means showing them that Timor-Leste is not a forgotten corner of the world, but a place full of stories, faith, culture, and courage. I want to help carry our heritage into the global conversation so others can see the beauty we have always known. When the world understands who we are, they also understand the strength behind our identity.

This is more than self-expression; it is service. It is choosing to uplift our nation by honoring the struggles of those who came before us and giving hope to those who will come after. It is the Ignatian call to be ‘men and women for others’, to set our hearts on what matters, and to let our actions speak louder than any speech ever could.

If I can help even one person feel proud to be Timorese, or motivate someone to believe that they can be part of our country’s growth, then every effort is worth it. Because real change does not just happen in government offices or large institutions. It starts with one person deciding to serve  and choosing to let their light shine for the greater good of the nation.

• Describe CSIL in one sentence!

CSIL is known for its strong academic achievement, but what it has truly given me is something deeper: it has formed me. Through the spirit of Saint Ignatius, this school has taught me to grow not only in knowledge, but in character: to seek depth, to aim higher than I ever thought I could, and to become the kind of person who serves. It has shaped me to strive for the greatest version of myself, not for my own success, but so I can stand with others and be for others.

• Any messages or ideas to add?

Thank you for taking the time to read my answers. I’m grateful for every question because each one pushed me to reflect, to grow, and to speak from the heart. I hope my words honor the Ignatian spirit and the values CSIL has taught me.