With this issue I am completing another chapter of my life. I represent an example of a Latin@ who came from a small city outside the United States, arrived at The Ohio State University with just a couple of suitcases and a driven spirit. Now, I am earning a graduate degree and I can see a clear path to where I want to go next. I hope I am — I am sure I am — just one of many who have achieved similar goals at this great university.
Coming from a small city in the Andes mountains, Ohio State was beyond my wildest dreams; I did not know much about Ohio or the university before my arrival. Now I look back at my college years and I could not see myself anywhere else. I have grown up and matured not only academically but also through my experiences, professionally and personally. During the last two years as editor of ¿Qué Pasa, OSU? I had the chance to develop my project management and time management skills along with the opportunity to meet a group of amazing people, including a Nobel Prize recipient. My involvement with student organizations, undergraduate research opportunities, various class projects with different companies, and, most importantly, the people I have met at Ohio State have helped me develop the confidence. Eight ¿Qué Pasa, OSU? issues later, I depart with the certainty of having left my mark at Ohio State.
In this issue, my last one as the editor, we present various success stories of Latin@s who overcame challenges. The experiencia of Miguel A. López and Luis Pompa’s story exemplify the importance of self-determination and support from their familias in achieving personal and career goals along the way.
We also present two stories from the College of Veterinary Medicine. First, the Greyhound Health and Wellness Program portrays the efforts of a group of Latin@s to make a positive impact in their field locally and internationally. Second is the story of Puerto Rico native Iris Vales, who shares how she overcame the obstacles in her journey to obtain an Ohio State doctoral degree this past spring.
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Counseling and Consultation Services, and the Office of Minority Affairs each herein provide parents with different insights on how to address the needs of their children before and after they take the leap to college, highlighting the importance of parents’ involvement. Additionally, Mercedes Sánchez continues with the series on Latin@ issues started last quarter, and the Graduate School and Career Services provide professional and academic advice amidst tough economic times.
Finally, as it is a tradition with our summer issue, we present to you the profiles of some of the recent Latin@ graduates who share some of their memories at Ohio State and tell us a bit about their future plans. These 12 graduates are living proof that obtaining a degree from Ohio State is within reach of those who put forth (or forward) the effort.
Either as a parent or as a student, I believe you will find this issue useful, and I hope the magazine continues fulfilling its objective of being a means for the Latin@ community at Ohio State to be heard and recognized. I will be moving away but a part of me will always belong to the 43210.
I do not have enough space to thank all the people who helped me along the way, but my last Esquina will not be complete without a gracias to my family and friends for their love and support, to Giovana Covarrubias, Fernando Bernal and Susana del Río, and other ¿Qué Pasa, OSU? team members, for being fantastic at what they do and a pleasure to work with. My appreciation goes to Víctor Mora and Dr. José Castro, for the opportunity they provided to me. Adiós y buena suerte! |
