Editor’s Note: The Point staff writer Kailyn Collette is a source in this story.
The on-campus shuttle is a routine part of getting to class or navigating the school’s steep hills for many students at Point Loma Nazarene University. Among the small team of students who operate this shuttle is Felipe Santos, a second-year Christian studies major, who approaches the job with energy and friendliness.
Before he became a familiar face on the shuttle, Santos grew up in Cascavel, Paraná, located in the South Region of Brazil, until he moved to San Jose in 2014. He said he chose to attend PLNU to pursue a degree in Christian studies partly because of his lifelong connection to faith.
“I love Jesus. My family is Christian. So ever since I moved to the U.S., I’ve grown up in a Christian household,” Santos said. “I knew whatever I do, it’s going to be related to Jesus to some extent.”
When he learned about an open position to become a shuttle driver, Santos took it for personal and practical reasons. He said that he enjoys the flexibility and financial support the job provides, as well as the opportunity it has to challenge him as an introvert.
“The only way I get comfortable somewhere is if I meet people,” Santos said. “I had to force myself to do that, or else it would be like high school and middle school all over again, where I just don’t talk to anybody.”
Santos typically works five-hour shifts where he drives in circles around the campus. He joked that he’s become so familiar with the 15-minute route that it feels more like 10. Though he said he loves driving, the stillness of this job contrasts sharply with his lifestyle back home.
“I cannot stay still long. So I don’t know how I do it,” Santos said. “Back home, I work on a ranch, so I’m constantly moving and under the sun.”
In an effort to combat the repetitiveness of this job, he uses music to create an upbeat environment during his shifts. Santos said he usually plays whatever keeps him energized and helps his riders feel at ease.
“Personally, I don’t like to go on in sadness, so I avoid listening to sad music,” Santos said. “So I put on some party music, some good vibes and worship. Sometimes just upbeat music, you know?”
The atmosphere he creates is noticed by students who ride the shuttle throughout the day. Luke Wilhelm, a second-year business administration major, said he likes Santos because of his punctuality, friendly demeanor and outgoing personality.
“He gets you where you need to be on time, if not early,” Wilhelm said. “It’s like having a good Uber driver, where you have those great conversations, like he is that guy but for the campus shuttle.”
Santos said that those interactions with students are his favorite part of the job. To make these connections more serious, he created his own routine to make each conversation more personal.
“I told myself from day one that every time someone comes in the shuttle, I’m not only going to greet them, but ask them where they’re going to work my memory,” Santos said. “I suck at remembering people’s names, and it’s highly improved because of this.”
The effort that Santos puts into connecting with riders continues to make an impact on students. Kailyn Collette, a second-year business marketing major, often relies on the shuttle to navigate the campus’ hills.
“I think the best type of people are people that treat others with kindness without expecting anything back in return,” Collette said. “Felipe is one of these people because it’s obvious he cares about the people he is driving around.”
For Santos, that’s exactly what he hopes students take away every time they step onto the shuttle.
“I just hope they feel welcome if they’re having a bad day,” Santos said. “I want their mood to be lifted up.”
Carson Dillon 
Olivia Roberts