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Diana
Ruggiero Graduates with 4.0 |
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By Nicole DeGreg
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If you attended the
Winter Graduation,
you probably noticed a dark-haired woman smiling proudly after
President Kirwan mentioned her name personally as being someone
very special to him and his wife: a woman who graduated with
an impressive 4.0 average even though English was not her
native language. It would have been hard to glance over this
recipient of “The Critical Difference for Women”
scholarship granted to her by President Kirwan.
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Diana Ruggiero and her family pose with
the president
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It would have been
impossible not to sense the accomplishment, the strength, and
the determination of this woman who believes “the most
important part [of her achievements] is to show others they
can do it.” This woman is Diana Ruggiero, a living example
of how hard work, determination, and constantly giving your
all to everything and everyone, can pay off in the end.
Before coming to Ohio, Ruggiero worked at a cybercafe in her
native city of Buenos Aires, Argentina where she met her husband,
Daniel, who was at that time a candidate for a master’s
degree at OSU and was studying abroad in Argentina. After three
months, Daniel returned to OSU, and less than a month later,
Diana joined him. The couple was married shortly thereafter
in 1999. Ruggiero calls this romance “a Cinderella story.”
Her husband currently works for a business called “Homes
on the Hill” in which he helps low income Spanish-speaking
members of the Columbus Latino community gain the financial
stability to purchase homes. Now considering her husband’s
family her own, Ruggiero firmly states, “For me, it’s
fundamental to be close to your family, both in terms of distance
and emotionally…”
It was quite an adjustment for Ruggiero to move from the bustling
city of Buenos Aires into the quiet, and as she jokingly puts
it, “Little House on the Prairie” environment of Portsmouth,
OH. “I felt lonely, desperate, and hyper and I just needed
to do something,” she said. She grappled with cultural
differences such as personal space, kissing everyone in greeting,
and learning not to touch people when teaching or talking. Now
the homesickness is gone and she has an appreciation for Americans
in general. “People are fair, sincere, and straight-forward
in this country,” she comments, “and I’ve learned
that its important to help yourself first, so that you are then
able to help others.”
Ruggiero began classes at OSU in 1999 studying what she refers
to as “Latin American Culture and Civilization.” She
adds, “When you’re a native speaker [of Spanish],
it sounds hollow to just say you’re a Spanish major when
really you’re learning about literature, how to write in
Spanish, and how to do research.” She received “The
Critical Difference for Women” scholarship, which is granted
to a woman 25 years or older whose college education had been
interrupted for some reason. Previously, Ruggiero had attended
medical school in Buenos Aires under the financial aid and strong
urging of her father, but was forced to quit school to work
and support her family financially after her father passed away.
Upon returning to Ohio, Ruggiero received the opportunity to
continue her education at OSU.
For over ten years now, Ruggiero has been teaching aerobics
classes, both in Argentina and at OSU. “My drug was exercising…”
she comments adding that she had to sneak around her father
to teach the classes in Argentina. Her Buckeye-robics classes
at OSU were very popular with their mix of aerobics, salsa,
and merengue. “It was amazing! We got the whole nine yards
in one class!” she quips enthusiastically. Now, although
she has left OSU, she is still teaching aerobics at the Columbus
North Athletic Club.
Before graduating, on account of her scholarship, Ruggiero received
the honor of an invitation to a private luncheon with President
Kirwan and his wife. “I was so excited I almost didn’t
touch my food,” she says smiling, “[President Kirwan]
was the sweetest guy in the world. He’s super…”
Although many people would let all the recognition and awards
go to their head, Ruggiero modestly declares that “the
[best] award is that people recognize me fordifferent things-
I love to be recognized for good reasons… not so much for
achieving a 4.0 but for breaking a stereotype. The most important
thing is to show others they can do it.”
Ruggiero has been accepted into OSU’s Spanish and Portuguese
graduate program and, in addition to taking classes in the fall,
she will be working as a teaching assistant. She expresses excitedly,
“I’m looking more forward to being a T.A. than to
the Master’s program itself.” Although Ruggiero has
already enjoyed teaching at both the elementary and high school
level, she is looking forward to eventually teaching at the
University level. “I think at an adult level you can discuss
a lot more things,” she explains.
Ruggiero would like to thank all the faculty and staff at OSU
who have been “like family” to her. She extends thanks
to her husband Daniel, Victor Mora, Jennifer Marinello, Ray
Arebalo, Ileana Rodriguez, Luz Calvo, Susan and Dale Purdy,
Salvador Garcia, and Ignacio Corona. When asked what she would
like to express to the Latino community of OSU, she replies,
“The Latino community needs to be homogenous, regardless
of where people come from… We need to be one within ourselves
with no stereotypes, just self determined and united. We have
to be together… es mi deseo”. |
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