Tomás Orjuela Muñoz is making the most of his college experience by staying active, and sometimes by creating his own opportunities.
There are a lot of words that could be used to describe Tomás Orjuela Muñoz, but “idle” isn’t one of them. He’s no stranger to teaching salsa classes at the Student Recreation Center or developing business ideas with the Community of College Entrepreneurs. When he isn’t studying, he can often be found downtown getting sushi at Bonzai or pork nachos at Maxwell’s. Orjuela Muñoz literally and figuratively has plenty on his plate, but when he felt something was lacking in his college experience, he took on a little bit more.
“Swim Club is truly the highlight of my week. Not only did I accomplish my dream of competing here, but I also built something bigger than myself.”
— Tomás Orjuela Muoz
“When I considered swimming at the club level, I realized Truman didn’t have a swim club,” he said. “I created the organization myself, especially after meeting others who, like me, were looking for a swimming community that wasn’t as competitive as the varsity team.”
Orjuela Muñoz learned how to write a constitution, recruited members, registered for a league and even designed swim practices. A club that wasn’t in existence just a couple of years ago now boasts more than 20 members and competes with other schools and swimmers from around the country.
“Swim Club is truly the highlight of my week,” he said. “Not only did I accomplish my dream of competing here, but I also built something bigger than myself. This experience taught me that everything happens for a reason, and none of this would have been possible without the amazing people I met along the way.”
With another semester to go before graduating in December, Orjuela Muñoz has already achieved a lot during his time at Truman. It’s even more impressive considering he’s doing it all in a second language. Like many international students, Orjuela Muñoz did not study at a bilingual high school in his hometown of Bogotá, Colombia. His desire to become proficient in English is one of the many reasons he ended up at Truman.
“I wanted to be in a part of the country where I could fully immerse myself in American culture and improve my English with daily practice,” he said. “Finding a place with a strong sense of belonging, academic excellence and a good reputation was important to me. All these factors became quantifiable since my dad likes to create Excel sheets with scores for big life decisions – and Truman ended up with the highest average in our rankings.”
During his time at the University, Orjuela Muñoz has been a regular in the academic honors listings, and he’s found additional value from studying in his non-native language.
“I’d encourage everyone to practice a new language. It gives you a rare kind of empathy for how others perceive words and communicate,” he said. “Learning something in a language you’ve just picked up is a real challenge. It forces your brain to work in new ways, and the feeling of accomplishment when you learn in a second language is something I think everyone should experience.”
The ability to think in new ways has helped Orjuela Muñoz on his path to a degree. He came to the University as a business major, but a five-credit economics class expanded the view of his future career.
“I realized I had a deep passion for market dynamics, incentive structures and societal issues,” he said. “Being a naturally curious person, I saw economics as a field with a broad scope of knowledge and valuable, applicable insights that could also support my long-term goals. So, I decided to make business my minor and pursue a degree in economics.”
Make no mistake, Orjuela Muñoz still has a passion for business. He has entered multiple business pitch competitions, including Truman’s own Bulldog B.I.T.E. Thanks to the support of his fellow CCE members, he’s progressed from someone who wouldn’t make it out of the first round to a back-to-back winner of the Midwest Entrepreneurship Conference pitch competition in Omaha. His post-college plans have also remained unchanged since he arrived on campus.
“My career goal has always been to get an education in what I consider the most prosperous country, equipping myself with the tools to grow my family’s business and pursue an entrepreneurial life in the land of opportunity,” he said.
Last year, Orjuela Muñoz and his parents obtained their permanent residency in the U.S. and opened BN Star, which specializes in creating wellness programs for employees to enhance productivity and build a healthier workforce. After he graduates, he plans to move to Florida to help with the company’s operations. It should be an easy transition, because even though he maintains an active schedule, Orjuela Muñoz has always prioritized his own wellness while striving to be his best.
“It’s easy to mismanage the freedom of college, whether it’s getting too caught up in all the fun activities or letting academics overwhelm you. Your mind and body are one and the same – you. If you keep both stable, you won’t feel bad. It may sound simple, but putting it into practice takes work,” he said.
