Every Student Has a Story: Juan Carlos Yep Dapina '25

Juan Carlos Yep Dapena '25 had narrowed his international study options down to two countries, Spain or the United States. Spain is where his mom is from; but the U.S. is where Sly is from.

Dapena really enjoys the first Rocky film, but he prefers the sequel. In Rocky II, Balboa (played by Sylvester Stallone) scores a dramatic, final-round knockout of Apollo Creed. Just before the bell, both boxers are simultaneously knocked to the canvas. Rocky summons the courage to beat the 10 count. Creed doesn't.

"Rocky never surrenders. He always goes deep into fights, but finds a way to win. Also, he's Catholic, and I like that."

Dapena was born in Peru, but moved with his family to Brazil when he was less than a year old (Dapena's dad took a job with an oil company working as a captain in offshore drilling). In college, Dapena studied at FAE Centro Universitário, a renowned institution with dozens of international partners, including Siena. FAE encourages international study, and Dapena decided to spend his final year in college in the U.S.

"My mom pushed for Spain, but I always had this desire for the American Dream. I grew up watching American movies. Rocky is a part of my childhood. It's the only movie that makes me cry."

FAE has partnerships with seven sister schools in the U.S. Siena is the closest to Philadelphia.

"Last year, I went the museum and I climbed the Rocky steps (above). It was really inspirational for me."

But if he came here for Rocky, the recent graduate with a degree in business management fell in love with Siena.

"I love this place. I love the professors. In Brazil, we don't have office hours or syllabi. The professors here really helped me a lot. There's also a strong international community here, and I was welcomed with open arms. But I lived with Americans, and they were so friendly. We don't have this kind of community in Brazil."

Dapena will take his degree back home, and he hopes to start his own business. "I want to be an entrepreneur." But first, he's extending his Siena experience by a few weeks...