Latinx Alumni Network president works toward ‘creating a new legacy’

A succinct however apt description of the skilled profession to this point of Simon Rodriguez Jr. ’13 would possibly learn: “In service to others.” Since he left Illinois State College, historical past diploma in hand, Rodriguez has devoted his life to serving his neighborhood, particularly relating to youth and households.

Rodriguez, who lives in Aurora together with his spouse, Thaise, and their first little one, Simon, has remained related to his alma mater. He’s come again to attend Homecoming, cultural dinners, and alumni occasions over time. He’s additionally been a member of the Latinx Alumni Community (LAN) since its starting in 2014 and is the present president of the group. 

On September 30, as a part of Latinx Heritage Month, he joined 4 different LAN panelists, together with moderators Dr. Rocio Rivadeneyra from Illinois State’s School of Arts and Sciences and Dr. Maura Toro-Morn from Illinois State’s Latin American and Latino/a Research program for a dialogue on the Multicultural Middle.

“It was actually full circle for me to share experiences from what looks as if way back since I’m 36 now,” he mentioned. “However the dialogue was actually related. It was simply improbable and an actual pleasure to listen to different panelists inform their tales.”

Rodriguez mentioned being a part of the panel was a fantastic expertise, saying members’ messages have been geared toward first-generation college students and all underrepresented teams. As a first-generation school pupil himself, he mentioned it’s vital to share his story. Whereas he was born in Aurora, he’s the son of immigrant dad and mom from Cuidad Juarez, Mexico. He mentioned a theme of the panel was to share with college students their struggles and to remind them that these challenges don’t magically finish with a university diploma.

“There’s relevancy with present college students once you speak about hardships and challenges we confronted after school,” Rodriguez mentioned. “We mentioned what you do once you graduate, the method of discovering a great job, shopping for a home, beginning a household. These are common themes.”

On account of his upbringing, Rodriguez is a local speaker of Spanish and English, which he calls a “great” reward. He started his profession as a bilingual social research instructor at East Aurora Excessive Faculty, the place he spent four-plus years within the classroom. And earlier than that, as an undergraduate at Illinois State, he served the Redbird neighborhood as an Admissions ambassador.

He now works because the youth providers supervisor for the Metropolis of Aurora. His job entails working with a wide range of neighborhood companions to carry applications to the younger folks of Aurora. He works on summer time camps, after-school applications, an annual sports activities pageant, youth useful resource festivals, Metropolis of Lights tournaments, Youth Court docket program, the Aurora STEAM Academy, back-to-school festivals, the Aurora Youth Council, mentoring applications, and extra. His job satisfaction is fairly excessive.

“Oh, typically there are usually not phrases to explain how rewarding and humbling it’s to serve others,” Rodriguez mentioned. “I’ve at all times served, and now serving in my hometown, it is extremely particular. Like educating, I get to advocate for youth and households, however now working in metropolis authorities, it’s on a bigger scale. I like it.”

He helped pay for school by becoming a member of the Nationwide Guard and was awarded the Mark Wyman Scholarship by means of the Division of Historical past. He was named a Fulbright Scholarship winner, which mixed with some pupil loans, allowed him to review overseas in England and Mexico.

Rodriguez mentioned he and fellow panelists needed college students to know that their time at Illinois State has performed an enormous function in shaping their present lives and their profitable careers. He advisable college students reap the benefits of all of the sources out there on campus and to have massive expectations for his or her futures. Lastly, he mentioned being related to Illinois State on this means, particularly throughout Latinx Heritage Month, has been thrilling for him.

“We’re at all times Redbirds, so coming again to campus to provide again is a stupendous factor,” he mentioned. “We’re creating a brand new legacy.”