Hindsight is 20/20: Ethan Ramillano
Luis Sandoval | STAFF WRITER
April 23, 2026
With graduation just weeks away, Ethan Ramillano is feeling conflicted about moving on from college.
“I’m kind of at a crossroads,” Ramillano shared, describing the uncertainty that comes with finishing his time at Whittier College.
As a fourth-year History and Political Science major, he is weighing his next steps, including the possibility of pursuing Law School after recently taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). But as he looks ahead, he cannot help but look back.
For much of his first two years, Ramillano’s college experience was limited. As a commuter student, he treated campus as a place to attend classes and leave. “Go to class […] maybe see some friends […] then head out as fast as possible.”
In hindsight, secluding himself was something he wishes he could undo. “It was definitely very detrimental to my college experience,” Ramillano admitted. “That [being involved on campus] is what I really regret not doing sooner.”
By the end of his third year, that mindset shifted. He started staying on campus after his classes, getting involved and trying new things. One of those steps was joining the Quaker Campus, something he had considered but never committed to. “I was like, might as well […] I will just try and see how it goes.”
Through his work with the paper, Ramillano found a new outlet for his interest in writing.
One of the pieces he is most proud of reported on Governor Gavin Newsom’s public response to President Donald Trump, which required extensive research and covered complex socio-political dynamics between the two politicians.
He also highlighted a later piece on late-night host Jimmy Kimmel as a project that challenged him and pushed the boundaries of his reporting skills.
Outside of journalism, Ramillano is involved in choir, which to him stands out as one of his most meaningful experiences at the College.
He remembers a collaboration with choirs from the Claremont Colleges, where a full day of rehearsals led into a final performance.
“It was really nice to hang out with other choir members […] and meet students from other schools,” he reflected. “It was really fun and very Luis Sandoval STAFF WRITER rewarding.”
Even with those experiences, Ramillano wishes he had taken advantage of opportunities earlier in his limited time as a college student. As a commuter and one of three siblings, adjusting to independence was not easy.
“I was kind of alone for the first time in my life,” he added. “Maybe that contributed to me isolating myself.”
Over time, he began to develop skills that will carry beyond college, including building relationships and learning how to navigate new environments on his own.
“Learning how to be independent […] learning how to network and build relationships […] those are things I’m still working on,” he said.
Now, as graduation approaches, Ramillano finds that those lessons matter just as much as anything he learned in the classroom.
“If I could rewind back to freshman year,” he said, “it would be to get involved.” Still, his experience is not defined by regret.
From presentations in his major to conversations with classmates and professors, there are moments that made the work worth it.
As he prepares to walk across the graduation stage, Ramillano leaves with a clearer understanding of what he values and what he will do differently moving forward. For him, that reflection is part of the process.And even if some lessons came late, they are ones he plans to carry with him.