First-Year Students
What do first-year Latin@ students hope to achieve at OSU!

¿Qué Pasa, OSU? is proud to introduce some of the new members of the Latin@ community, sharing their views and expectations.

Yorman Gomez
“I read one of the issues of ¿Qué Pasa, OSU? that focused on the graduating students. I was very impressed and proud to be a Latina. It’s great to see other Latinos and Latinas succeeding and getting ahead.”

Yorman Gomez is from Niles, Illinois and graduated from Maine East High School. Others in her family – including her brother, who is in his third year – are also attending college. Her mother is going to college and majoring in management, and her father is going to school to learn about real estate. Yorman’s planned major is biology, with a view toward getting into the genetics field.

“I chose Ohio State because, as I was applying for schools, they seemed the most interested in helping me out and guiding me through all my questions and concerns. They frequently sent me mail, and I talked to many Ohio State students. As an incoming freshman at Ohio State, I want to take advantage as much as possible of the things the school has to offer. I want to take classes that break the high school mold and give me a better, well-rounded sense of education.

“I want to have a great time. Being so far away from home and not knowing anyone from Ohio is going to be interesting, but I want to meet new people and make new friendships. I want to study abroad and go to new places. To succeed at Ohio State, I need an open mind and the ability to focus on things that are important. If I don’t prioritize my school work and activities, things may not go so well. I also think that taking advantage of services, like tutoring, will be a great way to stay on track.”

Gerardo Davis
“The atmosphere on campus was awesome and I think that the sense of community I felt here on my visits was something that drew me closer and closer to OSU.”

Gerardo has most recently lived in Strongsville, Ohio, but he has also lived in Puerto Rico and Olmsted Falls, Ohio. He graduated from St. Edward High School in Lakewood. His parents attended the University of Puerto Rico and graduated with degrees in chemical engineering. His planned major is business, but he is considering a math major as well.

“I won’t lie; NCAA football was another big deal in my college search. I expect a very, very successful academic career. My experience at Ohio State will be full and exciting, with no dull moments. I hope to learn a lot inside and outside the classroom and meet a lot of interesting people. Keeping on top of school would probably be my biggest concern. I realize that there are a lot of distractions at any college so my biggest challenge will be staying on top of grades and classes. A good group of friends that I’ll be able to rely on is probably essential to keeping my head above water academically, financially, socially, etc.”

Brittany Gerena
Brittany Gerena grew up in Amherst, Ohio where she attended Amherst Steele High school. Her mother is a registered nurse. Brittany’s planned major is fashion marketing and merchandising.

“Ohio State is a very large school and seemed to offer diversity that other universities lacked. I would like to meet new people, and to get involved in a lot of activities, and to be successful academically. I’m concerned about time management and making sure all my responsibilities are met. I believe that to succeed at any university you need to have an open mind. This is a new chapter in all our lives and we need to be open to all the opportunities that come our way.”

Allison González

Allison González grew up in Mentor, Ohio and graduated from Mentor High School. Her parents attended and graduated from college and her brother is currently studying at Ohio State. Her planned major is pharmacy.

“I chose Ohio State for a variety of reasons. The biggest reason I chose Ohio State over other universities is because of the scholarship I was awarded. I am grateful to have been awarded the MSP excellence scholarship. Another reason I chose Ohio State is because of the diversity. I think it will be an exciting new experience and I am happy to be able to come to a university that promotes and has pride in its diversity. I also came to Ohio State because of the pharmacy program that is offered. I would like to become a pharmacist, and I believe that I will get the best education for my chosen career at The Ohio State University.

“I think I will need a number of things to succeed at Ohio State. A major thing I think I will need to do is to manage my time. I also do plan to join some activities and clubs. I will have to make sure that I can study for my classes and participate in my activities. Although I want to have fun at college, I cannot have fun all the time. Finally, I think I will need to be open. There will be different people, people with different opinions, activities and different opportunities for different things.”

Luís Alberto Sanchez

Luís Alberto is from Santa Paula, California, one hour north of Los Angeles. He graduated from Saint Bonaventure High School. His mother graduated from Chapman University in Orange, California, and his father did not attend college. Luís plans to major in sociology and minor in Spanish.

“The atmosphere at Ohio State is one of a sense of pride. People are proud to be here, and why not? It is a fine academic institution filled with diversity, and it offers so much to each and every student. I expect to meet new people, and I hope to learn a lot from them. In return, I hope other people will learn from me. I am a bit concerned about being away from home. The only other thing I’m concerned about is how I can adapt to being in a different state that differs immensely from southern California. To succeed at Ohio State, one needs to be willing to think outside of the box and try to get involved in different activities so the campus feels like a smaller space.”

Vanessa Boss

Vanessa Boss is from Hinckley, Ohio and she attended Holy Name High School. Her mother and brother also graduated from college. She is majoring in pharmacy.

“I chose to go to Ohio State because of OSU’s fantastic reputation. Ohio State offers many opportunities and is very diverse. I am very proud to be attending The Ohio State University. As a first-year student at Ohio State, I expect everything to be very exciting because it will all be so different and new to me. I do expect to make good friends and have fun, as well as to do well in class. I also look forward to becoming involved in some of the hundreds of organizations and activities for students at OSU.

“I hope that at Ohio State I will experience a new lifestyle, but that it does not change who I am. I hope that I can find all my classes at first, that the food is good and that I can get involved and keep my grades up high. I hope and expect to enjoy almost every minute of OSU. I do not have any concerns about my first-year experience at Ohio State just yet, which is good because there is nothing like starting something new with an optimistic view.”

Enrique Feria-Arias

Enrique Feria-Arias was born and raised in London, England, and graduated from Dublin Scioto High School in, Dublin, Ohio. His parents have master’s degrees, and his brother is currently a junior at OSU as well. His planned major is molecular genetics.

“I decided to attend OSU because I received the Prestige Scholarship, and also because it was the only university that offered the major I was really interested in. And in the end, I figured that OSU is one of the best research universities in the country, and getting a diploma from OSU would really help me to get a good job once I graduate. As a first-year student, I just hope to get involved in a university that is as big as OSU. I also hope that I can keep up the good grades that I had throughout high school.

“I think in order to succeed at OSU, you just need to be responsible and learn to set your priorities straight. Study first, and then if there’s time you can hang out with your buddies. I am a little worried about not really focusing on getting good grades, and just having fun all the time. Especially since I am going to be living on campus, and there’s bound to be people that just want to have fun all the time and forget the that academics comes before fun.”

Amanda Mendoza

Amanda Mendoza was born in Abilene, Texas, grew up in Fostoria, Ohio, and graduated from Fostoria High School. She and her sister are the first in the family to attend college. Her planned major is microbiology.

“I have always wanted to attend Ohio State since I was a little girl, but the main reason I chose Ohio State over other Universities is because Ohio State has always been known for its exceptional education and I plan to attend medical school, so I need to have a good education in my background.

“I have always had high expectations no matter what school I was attending. My expectations for Ohio State are to feel I fit in, to be accepted, and to have a great experience. I hope to build strong relationships with my instructors and to make life-long friends, with memories I will have forever. I also expect to have a good first-year advisor who will make my following three years easier and more enjoyable. I hope my experience at Ohio State will be one that I will want to remember for a lifetime. I hope to do well in all of my classes, and I hope to meet lots of new people from different walks of life. I plan on getting involved in different organizations and community service activities, which I hope Ohio State can help make a good experience for me.”

Nick Brown

Nick is from Columbus, Ohio and graduated from St. Charles Preparatory on the east side of Columbus. His sister, Erika J. Brown, graduated from Ohio State back in December 2001. His planned major is business administration.

“I chose Ohio State over other universities because the Fisher College of Business can’t be beaten (ranked one of the top 15 in the nation), and I love diversity. As a first-year student, I expect to achieve my goals of getting high grades and becoming active within the university. Currently, I am in the HBSA program and I plan to play intramural tennis. I hope that my experience at Ohio State will be unforgettable and enjoyable. I know that I will have to work to my fullest potential because what I do here will reflect how I will do in the business world. Naturally, I worry about my performance at school, but I have been well-trained along my educational path, and I should have nothing to fear.”

Analisa Arroyo

Analisa Arroyo grew up in Lorain, Ohio and graduated from Lorain Admiral King High School. She and her older sister, who is also attending Ohio State, are the first in the family to attend college.

“I hope my time at Ohio State will be the time of my life! I can’t wait to get involved in something that I am so passionate about. Since I am unsure right now of what that could be, I am hoping I find that out at Ohio State. I am ready to start friendships with new people and look up to professors and mentors, like I did in high school. I hope that I can take what I have learned throughout high school, inside and outside of the classroom, and the morals and beliefs that my parents and family have taught me, and take that with me and let it grow. I expect to grow mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually while at Ohio State.

“One of the main reasons I chose Ohio State was the scholarship that I was awarded. I am blessed that I am attending this university at no cost. Also, since Ohio State is such a big place, I know that I will find somewhere to fit in. There are probably hundreds of activities that I will be able to get involved in. Ohio State also has such a vibrant school spirit, which attracted me. Lastly, since my sister attends OSU, I know that if and when I get homesick, she is not that far away.”

Sara Rose Camacho

Sara Rose Camacho is from Byron Center, Mich., and she is a 2004 graduate of Byron Center High School. Her parents met at college and both graduated from a state school in Michigan. Her planned major is athletic training, but she is also considering small business management.

“I chose OSU over three other Big Ten schools and the West Point because of their athletic training program and their interest in me in track and field. As a first-year student, I expect to be challenged a lot, and specifically in the areas of time management, personal relationships, stress-handling skills, and the ability to multitask efficiently. I want to have an awesome experience where I meet new people, and make relationships that will last a long time while adequately preparing myself for my future.

“Honestly, my major concern for my first year is having enough hours in the day. I have a very hectic and busy schedule full of track practice, classes, and work, but I want to have a personal life as well. To succeed at OSU, I will need the willpower to not be easily distracted by all the things that OSU has to offer. I am the kind of person that is distracted by good deals, shiny things, and things that make noise. So I will have to pull myself away from those kinds of things and really focus on the task at hand if I want to be successful.”