Veronica Weber
Westerville, Ohio – Venezuelan/American

Veronica, a graduate from St. Francis DeSales High School, had a tough time deciding between The Ohio State University and the University of Michigan to pursue her career in the Health Science field. “I chose Ohio State mainly for the Morrill Scholarship I received and the diversity that Ohio State offered,” she said. “After visiting several other schools, I found OSU to be the one that had the most to offer me in my undergraduate studies.” A fan of volleyball, tennis and traveling, Veronica arrived ready to take advantage of everything the university has to offer.

“I hope my experience will be motivating and memorable,” she said. “I want to be successful in all of my undergraduate work, study abroad, meet new people, make new friends, and get involved.” Veronica has already been looking into Canto Latino among other organizations as some of her options to get involved.

Veronica knows that organization, time management, and the support of different organizations will prove to be key to her success. “The Office of Minority Affairs has been very helpful to me,” she said. “They answered all of my questions and provided me with everything I need to start my first year successfully.”

Patricia Salgado
Chicago, Ill. – Mexican/American

Inspired to pursue higher education by her older sister Gaby, Patricia took on the challenge of being away from home for the first time with a positive attitude and excitement. “I’m worried about not having my support system nearby anymore and afraid of not doing well academically,” she said, “but OSU offers me another support system to help me succeed. It’ll be hard but I’ll make it.” For Patricia, a graduate from Tinley Park High School, Ohio State has everything: The college experience, school spirit, and quality academic programs. She will be majoring in biology and would like to become a veterinarian one day.

Described by her friends as “surprisingly-loud,” honest and loyal, Patricia not only plans to study hard to earn good grades, but she also wants to watch every football game, make friends, and gather plenty of memories along the way. She hopes to show people that hard work goes a long way. “ I might not be the smartest person around, but I push myself and work hard to get to where I want to be and I don’t plan on letting anything get me down.”

Cassandra Guarneros
Laredo, Texas – Mexican

Miles away from her loved ones, Cassandra’s dream of coming to Ohio State became true thanks to the Office of Minority Affairs. “Ohio State always seemed like a dream, but never did I think it would become a reality. I assumed I’d go to Texas for school, but when I decided to visit OSU in the Spring I felt right at home,” she said.

Cassandra, a graduate from St. Augustine High School, will be majoring in Speech Pathology with a minor in Journalism. She hopes her experience at Ohio State will be unique. “I want to be able to go back home and make my family proud of my decision, because coming this far wasn’t the preferred option for my parents,” she said, “I hope to make incredible friendships, live breathtaking moments, and get an education that will take me to unbelievable places.” Cassandra is concerned about classes, homework, and English not being her first language; however she is certain that her outgoing attitude and hard work will help her take full advantage of the “global perspective” Ohio State offers. Whether it be singing, helping friends with Spanish homework, or rolling perfect “R’s,” (and studying, of course) Cassandra will be living her dream and leaving her mark.

Marissa Gonzalez
Manassas, Va - Cuban/American

Born in Miami, Fla., Marissa grew up in Virginia and graduated from Brentsville District High School. She will be pursuing a degree in zoology, which she expects will allow her to become a veterinarian with a specialty in zoological medicine.

Proud to be a Buckeye and an avid sports fan, Marissa chose Ohio State because she expects to become part of something big and memorable in this great place. “With so many activities on campus, I expect myself to be busy very often and to meet some great people,” she said.

Moving far away and not being able to go home on the weekends are some things that concern Marissa. “I am nervous about living on my own, but I hope I am responsible enough for that,” she said.

Marissa’s recipe for success includes taking advantage of the tutoring services offered by the Office of Minority Affairs, as well as the mentoring program to help her get connected with other pre-vet students and veterinarians in the area. “I will not just get involved with student organizations and such, but I will also make the effort to create rapport with professors, advisors, and tutors. The more involved I am the more say I have on how well I do.”

Marissa Jamez
Groveport, Ohio - Mexican/American

Marissa graduated from Groveport Madison High School and, although she has lived in many interesting places due to her father’s job in the U.S. Army, she thanks her mom for deciding to live in Ohio, which made it possible for her to attend Ohio State.

Described as kind, dependable and loyal, Marissa plans to major in zoology (perhaps English too) to pursue her dreams of becoming a veterinarian.

She hopes Ohio State will be a fun experience that will provide what she needs for her career, but also will allow her to understand her culture better and learn about other things she is curious about.

“I’ve always tried to push my limits regarding my education, and I hope I can continue to do so here.” Marissa is a very driven student; in high school she enjoyed taking extra classes that kept her at school for 12 hours at times.

Even though Marissa is concerned about finding her way around our big campus, she is thankful to the student leaders at orientation who already helped her by answering all her questions and easing the transition process.

Juan Román
Cleveland, Ohio - Puerto Rican/American

A graduate from Cleveland Central Catholic High School, Juan is described by his close friends as intelligent, compassionate and funny.

With not many people in his family who have graduated from college, Juan comes to Ohio State excited to meet new people, make new friends, and build the knowledge and experience needed for his career.

With the support of both of his parents, Juan will be majoring in engineering and plans to pursue a career in videogame design and programming.

“My father always told me to choose a career I have a passion for and can look forward to when I wake up,” he said. “He told me to not worry about money or anything because he would do whatever it takes to send me to the school I wanted.”

Juan was not intimidated by the size of Ohio State. In fact, for him, with size come more opportunities. “A large university is a place I can easily see myself fitting in and enjoying every moment of it,” he said, “and thanks to the Office of Minority Affairs, even though I have not started going to OSU yet, I already feel at home.”

Joshua Miera
Albuquerque, N. M. - American/Spanish

The sense of community and the Buckeye passion that Ohio State students show brought Joshua to Ohio State. A graduate from Albuquerque Academy, he will be majoring in Mechanical Engineering to later pursue a career in medicine.

Joshua brings with him a passion for history and life; these will help him overcome his concerns about adjusting to a new environment and dealing with Ohio’s winter. Joshua is planning to work hard, manage his time and take advantage of all the opportunities Ohio State offers, while being careful “not to stretch himself too thin.”

Joshua came to Ohio State with many goals and wants to be remembered as someone who was hard-working and kind. “I hope to experience many opportunities academically and become a well-rounded individual who is prepared to positively influence the medical world and to help others,” he said, “I also expect to see a Football National Title.” (Don’t we all?) Joshua’s college experience has started on a positive note. “Everything has been great and everybody has been helpful, especially summer orientation,” he said. Upon his arrival, he plans to learn more about student organizations and to get involved in some.

Joshua Breto
Clearwater, Fla. - Venezuelan/American

Joshua will soon become a familiar face for many of us. Thanks to the efforts of coaches and Student Services, he will be playing on the Ohio State Men’s Soccer Team and scoring some goals for the Buckeyes.

Although Joshua hopes to play professional soccer after graduation, he will not leave his education aside and will be majoring in architecture and taking advantage of the campus life.

“I am excited and ready to see and do things that I’ve never seen or done before, especially since I will be living on campus,” he said.

Described as somebody who “lives to laugh,” Joshua is bringing along his positive attitude, assured that Ohio State will leave a positive mark on him.

“Ohio State takes everything seriously and its efforts to excel in academics and sports are something that I want to be a part of,” he said.

Joshua believes that with the support of his parents, coaches and attention to time management, his experience at Ohio State will be one of a lifetime.

Johanni Martin
Columbus, Ohio - Honduran

From Honduran parents and the first one of her immediate family to go to college, Johanni came to Ohio State to major in biology and later pursue a career in the medical field.

Thanks to the many opportunities offered at Ohio State and the financial aid she received, Johanni was able to come to the university that she and her parents preferred.

She begins her freshman year with high expectations.

“I expect to receive a good education, while feeling at home and meeting a lot of new people,” she said, “I hope it will be an unforgettable experience where I can grow as a person and achieve my educational goals.”

Described by her friends as loyal, communicative and honest, Johanni is certain that she can achieve anything she puts her mind to.

Although she is concerned about not having one-on-one support from professors as she had in high school, she plans to use the Office of Minority Affairs’ tutoring services and to take advantage of the support offered through student organizations.

Marcos Cruz
Rochester, New York – Puerto Rican

Marcos graduated from Allendale Columbia School. He plans to major in chemical engineering and later pursue a career with a pharmaceutical company as a pharmaceutical engineer.

Marcos chose Ohio State because of its recruiting process. “I was surprised to find out how much one school did for one student like me, considering the size of the student body,” he said. “The information I received along with the personal calls to my house made me feel wanted, and that is something every student should feel when they choose their University.”

Concerned about his time-management skills but hoping for a unique experience, Marcos knows that balancing classes with fun will be hard. However, he plans to dedicate enough time to take his college experience one step beyond by focusing on academics while leaving enough time to network through student organizations and to learn about himself and the person he wants to be.

Christine Castillo
Weslaco, Texas – Mexican/American

Christine, a graduate from Weslaco East High School, comes to Ohio State to major in biology to pursue her ultimate goal of becoming a dentist or a reconstructive surgeon.

Described as caring, smart and dependable, Christine chose to join the Buckeyes because she fell in love with Ohio State’s campus, the university’s prestige in academics and sports, its environment and its size. “OSU is a phenomenal place,” she said. “I expect to meet many new people, learn about different ethnicities and backgrounds, and reach a whole new level of education.”

Already a member of the Health Science Scholars, Christine plans on getting involved with student organizations and study groups as a means to succeeding academically and avoiding homesickness.

An early-morning jogger, Christine hopes to keep doing what she loves despites the weather. “I have never seen snow and everyone tells me I’m in for a big surprise and that is one of my concerns,” she said. For her, the Office of Minority Affairs was extremely helpful providing her with useful information and putting together social gatherings allowing her to meet people who will also be attending Ohio State. 