Meet John Paculdo Koenigshofer | Student Leader & Civic Engagement Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with John Paculdo Koenigshofer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, what do you attribute your success to?
I’ve always found it important to have a clear vision of what I want to accomplish. My work has never been tied to just one space or organization; I’ve held a variety of different roles where I can help young Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) like myself get involved in our civic processes. But even though I’m engaged in so many unique ways, my fundamental purpose has always remained the same, and each of my involvements have helped me accomplish that mission: to make my generation’s voice heard in the big decisions that shape our lives. I suppose I’ve found it to be the best way I can give back to my community in my current capacity.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My work is community-centered, first and foremost. It was difficult for me to find belonging growing up, since I never felt like I had access to spaces where I would be accepted for who I was. When I moved to San Diego three years ago, I decided that I wouldn’t take any community I found for granted: I wouldn’t just search for it, I would help build it up myself. Civic engagement, and public service in general, has always felt like the best way that I can give back. By advocating for what’s most important to us and working tirelessly to see it through, we not only become more active community members, but our voices are heard and shape the decisions that affect both our own lives and those around us.

My journey through public service has been a long, winding road. I’ve had the opportunity to advocate for quality education and better amenities for students through different roles in both San Diego and Washington DC, which eventually motivated me to turn my efforts towards engaging my fellow students in our civic processes. Recently, I had the immense joy of running the internship program for Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel’s campaign. I was thoroughly impressed by the passion, energy, and commitment to the community that I saw in our interns, who ranged in age from 14 to 24. That passion I see in my peers has made the work that I do on campus through student organizations like APSA, as well as my involvements off-campus through several local political clubs, so fulfilling.

The most challenging aspect of my work has been balancing my manifold involvements with my commitments as a full-time college student. The community never really sleeps for long, meaning that there’s always something exciting to work on, but it can be difficult to dedicate time and energy to both school and my other commitments simultaneously. Nonetheless, I’ve gotten better at understanding my own capacity over time, allowing me to make time not just for my professional and academic pursuits, but also for myself. I can’t stress enough how important it is to take care of yourself; you’ll be both happier overall and more effective at work!

If there’s one thing I hope readers take away from my story, it’s that your voice matters, no matter who you are or what you believe. Plenty of people, especially those around the same age as me, have asked me before, “Does my opinion really count? Will it really change anything?” The answer to that question is always “yes.” There are so many different ways to get involved and make yourself heard, and if you’re truly dedicated to what you believe in, you can eventually make it a reality. Never underestimate how much power just one voice can have!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are so many great spots all over San Diego! There’s never a shortage of things to do in Balboa Park, and I always love exploring the shops and restaurants just a stone’s throw away in North Park. An’s Dry Cleaning, despite the misleading name, has some of the best gelato in town! For a quick bite, any authentic Mexican place in the city is bound to be good, through La Perla in Pacific Beach and Tacos El Gordo downtown hold a special place in my heart. If you’re looking for something fancy, try Bencotto Italian Kitchen in Little Italy or Queenstown Village in La Jolla. And if you happen to be craving Asian food, the Convoy District has you covered: I recommend trying Steamy Piggy or Facing East Noodle & Bar!

I’ve watched countless sunsets at Kate Sessions Memorial Park and the top of Mount Soledad: the sweeping views of the city are simply unmatched. I’ve spent a few lazy afternoons in Mission Beach, whether I’m exploring the rides at Belmont Park or biking along the shore of Mission Bay. For a more quiet outing, I’ll show my friends the bunnies at the Grange Garden cafe in Solana Beach or take them for a walk in downtown Encinitas. And if I’m ever in the mood for drinks, Raised by Wolves at the UTC mall is always my first pick: the vibes are great, and the drinks are even better!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I definitely wouldn’t have made it this far without some stellar mentors who decided to take a chance on me! I want to give a shoutout to my mentors at Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), who helped me break into the civic engagement space and gave me the opportunity to register voters on my college campus. I also want to spotlight my friends Dannie Zhu and Wuyi Heryadi: together we run the Asian and Pacific Islander Student Alliance (APSA) at UC San Diego, one of the university’s oldest and most influential cultural student organizations. I also want to take this chance to highlight our supportive partners at the San Diego API Coalition, a collection of over 50 Asian and Pacific Islander organizations who do incredible community work across San Diego County.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-paculdo-k/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnPaculdoK