A collegiate experience led by faith

BY SARA FARMER / Contributing Writer

Angie Roa, a senior graduating from the College of Education, was raised in Miami, Florida, until she was 11 years old and Justin, Texas, since then. She has been a full-time student at Tarleton State University since 2021 and has made a lasting impact on the campus and the people she has met.

Angie was raised by loving parents. The Roa family is a loyal, strong Catholic family. Angie owes the introduction to her faith, along with her fun-loving personality, to her family, especially her dad, Marlon Roa.

“My family is amazing,” Angie said. “I love my dad a lot. I am definitely most like my dad. He is very blunt and straight-forward and loves the Lord. I have always loved my dad because he has always been there for me and has done so much for me.”

Angie is known for her outgoing, talkative personality, which she gets from her father.

“My dad talks to everyone, anyone,” Angie said. “He sees someone on the street, they probably know him.”

Talking to others is like second nature to Angie.

“I like to get to know others and then once I get to know others, I get to tell them about Jesus, and that is my goal, I just want to tell everyone about Jesus.”

Angie is close with her siblings and is constantly trying to bring them to God. Angie has a close relationship with her sister, Isa. The two often go to mass and religious retreats together. 

Angie also loves and admires her mother, Aida Roa. She describes her as a sweet and caring woman who is everything a mother should be.

The call to teach was something Angie felt from an early age. She has always been an outgoing individual, eager to spark up a conversation with anyone and everyone, in hopes to lead them to Christ.

“All my life, I always wanted to be a teacher,” Angie said. “I have always tried to orient my life around teaching others because I want to make better people. It is our duty to bring others to Christ.” 

Angie admires the open-mindedness and purity of children, which is why she wants to teach fourth through sixth grade. 

Her teaching experience began early. In high school, Angie was a ‘Confirmed in Action’ at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton youth group. Working with the younger children helped her grow in her faith herself because she was helping others grow in theirs by educating them on right and wrong. 

Along with teaching, Angie also wishes to pursue a lifestyle of becoming a religious sister. 

“I want to join the CFR sisters (Community of Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal),” Angie said. “Serving the poor and serving the children, I think it is so beautiful to help God’s people through that way. We are feeling lonely a lot of the time and their whole message is to show love to others even when they do not feel loved.” 

Payton Williams and Angie are close friends, having met five years ago at Northwest High School. The two had a humorous way of meeting considering their close friendship present day. 

“She was my baseball manager and ended up being my boss at Hawaiian Falls,” Willams said. “I didn’t have my license, so she was my driver.” 

“[Angie is] a wonderful creature that is very extroverted and very outgoing. She is willing to stop at nothing to get to know everyone around her,” Willams said.

Karlee Vinklarek, Angie’s roommate, has grown very close to her over these past few years.

“I would describe Angie Roa as a selfless friend,” Vinklarek said. “She has so much spirit and passion inside of her, no matter what it is. She was the one person in my life that truly brought me out of my shell.”

Angie and Vinklarek met before praying the rosary with the Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM.) Vinklarek asked the group for bible recommendations and Angie was the first to respond. She then stayed after, helping Vinklarek find the bible online, which is where their friendship formed. 

“Ever since then, we just had a really good connection and kept running into each other at events,” Vinklarek said.

Angie has had a lasting effect on those she is close with, but she also has the ability to make her mark on those she doesn’t know.

“I was at a bar one time,” Angie said. “I was sitting there and my phone was down and my phone case says “missionary” on it. A guy said, ‘Oh you're a missionary? So what are you doing at a bar?’ And I said, ‘well, I’m just here to hang out.’ He said, ’Oh so you love Jesus?’ and I was like ‘yeah I love Jesus!’ Then we had an hour long conversation about Jesus inside a bar. I never thought that would actually happen to me. I thought it was so beautiful, he was very open to listening to what I had to say and I loved that conversation. His name was Will by the way, shoutout Will!”

Angie has a special relationship with the Purple Poo. Her close Poo friends are Brother Nature, Sister Speedy, Brother Chuck and Brother Slip. Angie’s outgoing nature led to her and the Poo’s interacting on a regular basis.

Many see the Purple Poo as a fun tradition on campus, but Angie views them in a deeper way and recognizes their dedication to Tarleton. 

“They're not wanting anything from anyone, they are just here to support others on campus,” Angie said. 

Angie has and continues to leave a lasting impact on those she interacts with. She is a loyal friend who sticks by her pack for the long haul. 

“I see her being a friend, a part of my family, a future aunt, and a bridesmaid,” Vinklarek said. “I hope she is going to be in my life forever.”