Every year, ¿Qué Pasa, OSU? magazine introduces a few members of the incoming Freshman class to the greater Ohio State community, with the hope that all might recognize both the excellence and potential of our ever growing Latin@ population. As the 2009-2010 academic year ensues, we wish these promising new students nothing but success during the upcoming year. For both these students and the larger student body, we impart our kindest regards and highest expectations for your upcoming year. May your heart be true, your passion run deep, and your experiences be filled with great accomplishments and lasting memories here at OSU.
Egder Dominguez
Chicago, Illionis
Mexican/ American
Anticipating, “Nothing less than the time of my life,” Egder Dominguez enters OSU with very high expectations. Egder is enthusiastic about the opportunity for both a great college experience and challenging academic programs, which were the factors that contributed to his decision to attend Ohio State. After graduating from Metropolitan High School, Edger has enrolled at Ohio State and plans to major in Business, with the ultimate goal of pursuing a career in Finance.
Edger already has family at OSU, who have acted to guide him toward the pursuance of higher education. Egder remains confident as the school year approaches, contending that any obstacle he may face can be overcome by dedication and hard work.
His goal is to not only graduate as a student who will be remembered by his teachers for his dedication, but also to be well-known around campus by other OSU students as an outgoing person. Egder’s mental toughness will serve him well, a disposition he honed in the boxing ring. “I find this unique because most people will never step into the ring,” Egder told ¿Qué Pasa, OSU?. “I have already had 20 amateur bouts.” With a fighter’s mentality, Egder will no doubt prove himself as a formidable student.
Amber Seira
Santa Rosa, California
Mexican
A graduate of Montgomery High School in California, Amber Seira faced resistance from many when she decided to move away from home. Driven by a desire to establish her independence, Amber made the decision to enroll at OSU, where she plans to major in pre-design with a specialization in Visual Communications Design. Amber chose Ohio State because she believes it can provide her with great personal support, leadership, and volunteer opportunities. Having excelled as a student, Amber enters a renowned program with significant financial support from OSU. Amber is driven by her desire to become the first college graduate in her family and is determined to make her mark here at OSU.
Amber told us that she welcomes the challenges she will no doubt face here at OSU, as she believes such adversity will stimulate a greater sense of self awareness and confidence. To alleviate home-sickness and potential feelings of cultural estrangement, Amber plans to join groups or organizations and meet people with whom she can speak in Spanish.
Amber’s friends describe her as energetic, optimistic, and mischievous. She has a strong interest in poetry, a passion that earned her county honors for writing. After becoming regional champion, Amber participated as one of 24 finalists in a state level competition called Poetry Out Loud 2009.
Jaime Bravo
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico / Florida
Puerto Rican
After graduating from the largest high school class in the nation with 1,270 students in Florida, Jaime Bravo is proud to be a Buckeye. Having been told on numerous occasions that he is a “fun nerd,” Jaime takes pride in his time-management skills; not only did he graduate at the top of his class, but he also maintained both an active social life and numerous hobbies. Here at OSU, Jaime plans to major in Biomedical Engineering, with the ultimate goal of attending medical school.
When asked about his vision for the next four years, Jaime explained, “I really do not have a lot of expectations for my college life because it is what I make it … OSU is very highly ranked amongst other public schools so I do expect to receive an excellent education and the option to do undergraduate research or internships.” The challenges awaiting Jaime will no doubt result in equally great rewards.
Jaime’s friends describe him as hard-working, honest, and trustworthy. Jaime’s concerns are developing adequate study habits and making friends, especially since he is traditionally very shy around new people. He hopes that by the time he graduates he can demonstrate how well Hispanic students can adjust to Ohio State and succeed in academia.
Joseph Bedich
Warren, Ohio Mexican/American
Joseph Bedich comes to us as a legacy, his father having graduated from OSU some years back. As the second Buckeye in his family, Joe is in the Honors Program and plans to double major in Math and Astronomy. His goals are as high as his resémé is impressive: Joe hopes to one day work for NASA.
Joe chose OSU not only because of the social atmosphere, but also for the numerous opportunities offered to a student with his interests. Joe is especially excited by the strength of the Math Department, which rivals that of nearly any private university.
Joe has been described as optimistic, funny, and smart. Joe told ¿Qué Pasa, OSU?, “I am a scuba diving, guitar playing, shotokan karate student who is a Star Wars aficionado.” Despite his fun loving demeanor, Joe remains determined to never lose focus of his studies, despite the many distractions a social life at OSU can present. He believes that college can be both fun and challenging, and that his years at OSU will allow him to grow rich in knowledge and life experiences. His greatest concern is ruining his clothes while trying to do laundry, a quirk that betrays his overall good humor and confidence.
However the road may turn, Joe remains optimistic about his future and wants nothing more than to be remembered for doing something positive here at Ohio State. His positive thinking and dedication to education will no doubt enrich the greater OSU community.
Katherine Paguero
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic /
New Jersey, N.J. / Hamilton, Ohio
Dominican
A graduate of Hamilton High School, Katherine Paguero decided to attend OSU because she believes the institution is a place where her goals and expectations can be satisfied. With the support of her calculus teacher, Mr. Larry Rose, Katherine became convinced that her goals of receiving a great education, meeting new people, and achieving independence could all be realized at Ohio State. Katherine believes OSU offers numerous exciting opportunities, and she told ¿Qué Pasa, OSU?, “I want to make a difference, even if it is very small.”
Katherine has been described by her friends as honest, outgoing, and original. At this point, she plans to challenge herself by registering with a double-major in International Business and French respectively.
Aside from her personality, what makes Katherine unique is her willingness to try new things at least once; still, safety and health are always her primary concerns. Her extroverted personality and consistent sound judgment will no doubt serve her well at OSU for years to come.
Andrea De Leon
Port Clinton, Ohio
Mexican-American
Andrea De Leon brings both her caring nature and her strong faith in God to OSU this fall. A graduate of Port Clinton High School, Andrea aspires to be a Public Relations Director for a non-profit organization. Her desire is to serve her community and make the world a better place. She joins numerous fellow Buckojos this fall who are beginning the program in Communications and Marketing, and she is considering a minor in Spanish.
Central to her character is her deep faith in God, who she credits for her opportunities. Andrea has received a tremendous amount of support of both financial and personal from the Offices of UA & FYE and Minority Affairs, a large factor in her choosing OSU.
Described by her best friend as bubbly, yet organized and sociable, Andrea hopes to build new friendships with both her fellow students and OSU faculty and staff. Like many, Andrea brings her share of concerns, especially when it comes to excelling academically in a major research institution like OSU. Still, she plans to overcome these fears with hard work and an active volunteer agenda. Andrea hopes to leave a mark that will inspire others from similar backgrounds. Her plan: be prepared, follow through, create and nurture relationships, value individuals, and maintain her willingness to teach and inspire others. OSU can only benefit from individuals who are so interested in community wellness, and we are certainly fortunate to have Andrea among us.
Stephen Rodriguez
Lake Grove, N.Y.
Puerto Rican
Stephen Rodriguez has long dreamt of the day that he would become a Buckeye; that dream is now reality. A graduate of Sachem North High School, Stephen is now starting his career at Ohio State with the goal of attaining a degree in Business.
The move from New York to Ohio is difficult for many reasons: the lack of family in everyday life, the shift in culture, and the need to create new social networks are an array of challenging adversities. Still, Stephen relies on the support of his mother, with whom he is very close, and remains driven by great expectations. Stephen has heard many great stories about life at OSU; he now seeks to create some of his own.
Stephen’s greatest asset is his flexibility in the face of intense change. While he is also described by friends and family as a good listener, intelligent, and funny, it is his willingness to try new things and his ability to adapt to new settings that will no doubt lead him to a standout career here at OSU.
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