'Step Into Their World': How Destiny Lugo’s Passion for Diversity Is Fueling a Global Fight Against Human Trafficking

Before we get to the beginning of Destiny Lugo's ORU story, we're going to start with the "after" of her story. After ORU, Destiny, an International Relations major, plans to move to Washington D.C., work with the United Nations, and establish an organization to fight human trafficking on a global scale. Obviously, these are the choices of a student who wants to work internationally, but that's a small part of the story. For Destiny, internationalism is more than just a career goal; it's also the guiding principle for how she lives.

"I flourish in diversity," Destiny said. "I'm passionate about the world, and I feel at home when I'm abroad. To truly experience another person, you have to step into their world. I regularly attend the Turkish Society in Tulsa, and I go to a Christian-Indian church where they sing in Hindi and eat Indian food every week. The world is nothing without its diversity, which is why I love ORU. There are so many different cultures on campus."

The Importance of Diversity

For the last four years, Niche has ranked ORU the #1 "Most Diverse College in Oklahoma." Step onto campus, and you immediately see it … a community of students from all over the world. Destiny encountered this diversity from day one, and it's something that's been happening ever since.

"When I came for my Quest visit," Destiny said, "I had the opportunity to speak French, Arabic, and Spanish. It's why I fell in love with the campus. As an ORU student, this is an everyday experience for me. My first roommate was from Kazakhstan, my second from Brazil, and my current roommate is from Guatemala. When you're on this campus, you're constantly stepping into other worlds."

Destiny believes that surrounding yourself with diversity is critical to growth and self-improvement. Her formula is this: experience another person, and you'll discover more about yourself.

"Sometimes," Destiny said, "we're quick to judge different people and different cultures. Some will stereotype a nation as a 'nation of poverty' or another as a 'nation of crime.' But you'll learn a lot more if you take the time to look deeper. By looking deeper, you connect with people, and those connections are what fuel me."

For those who are hesitant to connect, who feel safe in homogeneity, Destiny has this advice:

"Don't discard your Americanness, but be willing to become an expert on the world around you. People think that their lives will always be in one town or one state, but you never know what road God's going to take you down. Maybe your clients won't all be American. Maybe your business will be conducted overseas. Maybe you'll marry a spouse who's from a different country. There's an innate value in learning about different cultures. Career-wise, relationally, and spiritually, you'll find beauty in opening your heart to the world."

Shape the Story, Shape the World

Opening her heart to the world is exactly what Destiny plans to do with her life. As the president of ORU's Anti-Human Trafficking Club, she says human trafficking is as much a cultural issue as it is a legal issue. To remedy this, she wants to combat human trafficking on a cultural level through journalism, media, and public advocacy.

"Journalism and advocacy are important in the fight against injustice," Destiny said, "because it puts the issue on people's radars. How will people discover the plight of Afghan women unless thousands of journalists first cover it? With a story, you can shape the narrative, and if you can shape the narrative, you can shape history. As the Bible says [Romans 10:14-15], 'How will they know unless there is a preacher?'"

So after ORU, Destiny has a plan (she calls it her "mission') to combat and someday defeat human trafficking. For anyone who wants to join the international fight, Destiny suggests this: get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

"If you want to be the hands and feet of Christ," Destiny said, "you need to get comfortable with different people. That doesn't mean becoming a chameleon; you should still share yourself as an individual. But you may have to change your behavior and embrace another culture. Don't ask them to change for you. Step into humility and be willing to change for others."

Photo collage of Destiny and her friends, and moments of her ORU experience

Nationally Ranked, Globally Recognized

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 17 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor's level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. In 2024, the Carnegie Foundation recognized ORU with a "Leadership for Public Purpose" award, a distinction earned by only 25 universities nationwide. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 176 nations in the last 7 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.