Rae Holder '26 was too young to understand it, but her parents always had a plan for her. The hurt and the longing, unfortunately, had to be part of it.
Their daddy-daughter dates meant everything to Holder, and it wasn't because of the candy. Well, it wasn't only because of the candy. Holder and her dad would go shopping together, just the two of them, in their hometown of Georgetown, the capital and largest city in Guyana. Sometimes Holder would be allowed to pick out a toy in one of the shops, and by the end of the date, she almost always guilted her dad into buying candy. Their time together was special, but she had no idea how fragile. When Holder was seven, her dad moved to New York, and she would only see him twice, total, over the next seven years.
"There just aren't a lot of careers in Guyana (a small country on the northern coast of South America). A lot of the workforce are teachers, and they aren't paid anywhere near what they're owed. My parents had a long-term plan for me and my siblings. I just had to be patient."
After several years in the U.S., Holder's dad was able to acquire his American citizenship which extended to her. When Holder turned 14, she flew to New York to live with her dad, and they reunited in a New York City airport.
"I remember doing a double-take at the airport. I was like, 'Is that my dad?!' We gave each a nice big hug. It's all history from there."
Holder attended high school in Brooklyn, but now, she goes long stretches without seeing her mom, who's still back in Guyana. But Holder knows it's a privilege to chase the opportunities born from her parents' sacrifices. In fact, she assumes that's why she's always so eager to sacrifice for others. Holder applied to several colleges, but when she learned about Siena's Bonner program, Siena was her only choice.
"It's rooted in my culture. My grandmother, like both of my parents back home, was a teacher. She also had a food business. She woke up every morning at 4:00 to make huge batches of food to give away to families. I learned that caring for others is just something you do."
As a Bonner Service Leader, Holder has devoted significant time the past few years at food pantries and volunteering with youth programs. This year, she's working in the employment office at RISSE – supporting refugees and immigrants who are new to the U.S. and the Capital Region.
"I came to this country as a minor, and I'm getting an education here. But for people who come as adults, their education and talents aren't typically reflected in the jobs they're able to get. It can be a slap in the face. I'm grateful that I can help them create resumes and apply for jobs."
As for Holder's next job? Basic Training. She was sworn into the Air Force a few weeks ago.
"My brother is in the Army, and after hearing about his experiences, I want to travel the world and continue to do things that are meaningful."
The computer science major will do her basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, then she'll be sent to tech school for a few months before earning her first assignment, potentially in the cyber sector. She wants to travel the world, and she wants to apply her Siena education to make a difference in people's lives. But no matter where she goes, she'll always make the effort to get home when she can. Now that daddy-daughter dates are back on, there will never be seven years in between again.
"I don't need the candy anymore; it's just important to be together. We talk a lot now, and we share. We talk about social justice and the topics that matter to us. Oh, and I give him pedicures, too. It's a daddy-daughter thing."
"Rae is an amazing Bonner Service Leader - not only does she take advantage of all the resources and opportunities available to Siena Bonners to help them define and refine their academic and professional goals, but also she is a generous mentor and peer advocate for the first-year and sophomore Bonners. Rae is a positive force for building belonging in our program and with her warm smile and positive attitude she makes it all look effortless!"
Allison Schultz, Ed.D., director for the Center for Academic Community Engagement
"Rae's work with RISSE (Refugee and Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus) highlights her dedication to service and her genuine commitment to supporting those most in need in her community. Rae has worked closely with the newcomer population in Albany, assisting them with job applications, resume collection, as well as working on creating a job database that is responsive to the language needs of the individuals RISSE serves."
Josh Anthony, assistant director for the Center for Academic Community Engagement
