Jerry J. Rodriguez ’20
Hometown: Dorchester, MA
Major: Political Science & Human Rights
Why did you join the multicultural requirement team?
I joined the Multicultural Recruitment Team (MRT) because I wanted to give back to a program that helped me make such a monumental decision in my life. I attended Preview Weekend as a prospective student, and I absolutely fell in love with the school and the team who put the program together. I wanted to be part of a team where I will be able to make an impact on students and help them find a home here on campus.
What is the biggest lesson you learned from your first semester on campus?
The biggest lesson I learned is that time management is really important as well as making a boundary with my social life on campus so that I do not lose focus on my academics.
How has a liberal arts education fostered your thinking? What class impacted you the most?
A liberal arts education has fostered my education by helping me explore what it is that I truly want to do for a career. A class that very much impacted me is Higher Education in America, taught by Angel Pérez. This class opened my eyes to how the higher educational system is also a business and how it impacts students all over the nation and even the word.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
I hope to make sure young men on campus find a place/home to be comfortable and be themselves. I am part of La Voz Latina (LVL) and Lambda Alpha Upsilon (LAU); two Latino oriented organizations. For LVL, I want to make sure that I leave the organization in a good spot with their events and that students are comfortable enough to associate with the group. For LAU, I want to make sure to that I leave the fraternity in good hands and that gentlemen from all different walks of life who truly look for a family join this organization and receive that family feeling. I want to make sure that this organization continues to uphold our values of brotherhood, scholarship, and community service as I embark on a new journey after college.
How has the city of Hartford impacted your college experience?
Hartford has impacted my college experience in a multitude of ways. Coming from Boston, Hartford reminded me of a smaller version of home. I have been able to conduct research in Hartford and work with multiple community partners including the Kabala House, a safe space where people can go and express themselves, be comfortable with their identities without being judged; they can do this through art as well. Summer internships within the city have exposed me to government and helped me pursue my career. Lastly, I have immersed myself in the culture and the food on Park street, which is only a few blocks from campus. All of this could not have been done if it was not for the P.R.I.D.E. (Promoting Respect for Inclusive Diversity in Education) Program.
If you were an animal what kind of animal would you be?
If I were an animal, I would be an Andean Condor because they soar as high as they can. I use that as inspiration because I strive to continue soaring and to make it to the top.
What areas of campus makes you feel at home?
La Eracra, the cultural house for La Voz Latina (LVL), helps me feel at home (I also lived there the summer after my sophomore year). Seeing all the culture that I’m familiar with and even seeing culture that I am not always puts me at ease. The house has such rich history and is very cozy.
Favorite Hartford memory?
My favorite Hartford memory occurred in the Summer of 2019. I really enjoyed being able to walk through downtown all the way from campus with three of my closest friends. We then stopped at the Bushnell and sat there on a nice sunny day; it was just very nice enjoying the Hartford scenery.
