Evelyn Rodriguez - Marquette University

My Experience at Marquette University

Like many other freshmen entering their first year of college, I was apprehensive and nervous about the journey that I was going to embark on.  It was sad leaving my family, friends, and the life that I lived.  My entire world was shifting and I knew that I had to do some serious adaptation.  The fact that worried me the most was living up to everyone’s expectations.  Since I am the first in my entire family to leave home for college, I had the great responsibility of setting a good example.  Succeeding in college was not an option for me, rather an obligation.  It was my duty to prove not only to my family, but my community as well that it is possible to attend college away from the home.  Many people thought that I was brave for leaving my home.  Other people thought my mother was insane for allowing me to leave the house without first getting married.  My choice for attending Marquette University was because I felt in my heart that it was going to provide the opportunities I need to pursue my goals to become successful in life.  I knew I was making the right choice by attending this university.  I also knew that I was not going to worry about financing my education due to the scholarships I earned like Scholarship Chicago (formally known as College Bound).  This knowledge motivated me to never lose sight of my goals or purpose in life.

I felt a tinge of culture shock upon my arrival at the dorm.  Although I am a minority in this country, I never felt like one because I attended a diverse high school and I grew up in a predominately Mexican neighborhood in Chicago.  Everyone around me was Caucasian; I felt like I was the only Latina.  The first two weeks were the loneliest I have felt in my entire life.  The only thing that kept me going was the constant support of the people who loved me back home and my determination to achieve my goals.

Fortunately, I loved the classes I selected for the first semester.  I had a great schedule and worked hard to juggle academics with the social aspect of living in a residence hall.  I started to attend introductory meetings to a few of the organizations that interested me.  I met a lot of great people and slowly immersed into the Marquette community.  I decided to become involved Marquette Tribune by writing articles on different subjects.  I was also a writer, reporter, and anchor for the Marquette Television news cast (MUTV).  Being involved in these two organizations allowed me to gain experience in my journalism major. I was also a member of the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) and I helped organize the production of the annual cultural performance: COLORES.  I was also involved in a freshmen program called CommUNITY where I was able to take leadership positions through class discussions, activities, and events. 

I continued my involvement in these organizations throughout my second semester.  After winter break, I decided that I needed to learn more about the city of Milwaukee.  I had previously been a volunteer at an event for a non-profit organization ( United Community Center) during my first semester.  In January, I applied for a tutoring position in the after-school program.  I was hired immediately and became an after-school tutor and leader for fifth grade students.  I did not mind taking two buses a day to tutor the students because I loved my job. 

This non-profit organization is located in a predominately Latino neighborhood in Milwaukee’s south side.  These children are considered “at risk” since they live in a “violent” neighborhood.  I was told that the fifth graders were terrible when I first started working.  They had gone through three different tutors before me.  Sure enough, my group tried to give me hard time when I first took over as their tutor.  They had no form of discipline and would refuse to do homework.  Growing up in a predominately “at risk” neighborhood as well allowed me to relate to the students and earn their respect and trust.  I encouraged them to do homework with ideas I created in order to motivate them.  By the end of my time working at United Community Center, the children were reluctant to let me go and many asked if I was going to be their summer recreation leader.                       

My involvement in the greater Milwaukee community made me appreciate this city that I now call my second home. I love being a student at Marquette and I am fascinated by possibilities this university has to offer. One of my greatest achievements at Marquette thus far is being selected as a resident for the 2005-2006 academic year.  As a second year student, I feel like I have already achieved many accomplishments.  I feel like I’ve already made a difference on campus. One of the reasons that I chose to apply for a RA position was because I know that I can motivate others to become involved in service for others.  I also want to mentor others towards their right path and help students with any problems. I was recently honored to speak about my experience and involvement at Marquette at a Multi-cultural Reception.  After my speech, many parents came to me with their incoming freshmen asking me to talk to their son/daughter to find out ways that they could get involved.

I plan to continue playing an active role around campus and in Milwaukee.  I am grateful for organizations that help students’ dream of attending college come true like Scholarship Chicago.  I would not be able to attend Marquette if it wasn’t for their financial support and motivation. Scholarship Chicago goes above and beyond to help students, like me, to go to college and pursue my goals.  My purpose is to make a difference no matter how big or small everywhere I go.  I hope the service I bring to others inspires them to give back to the community and do the same.