Alondra Rodriguez or as her friends call her, Lonnie, is a senior here at Manhattanville. She is an outgoing individual who loves to explore and see what life has to offer. I got to interview Lonnie about her goals after graduation and her study abroad experience last spring.
What is your year and major?
AR: I am a Communications Studies major and a Theatre minor.
Why did you choose your major?
AR: I chose my major because I have so many different interests and I felt that communications encompasses all of them. I enjoy working with people, I enjoy speaking in front of people, and I enjoy the more interpersonal side to communication.
What are your plans after graduation in May?
AR: I have so many ideas for what I want to do postgrad. I want to join the Peace Corps; I want to work for a non-profit, one that focuses on either empowerment for girls, students in urban communities, or support for immigrants. I would also like to spend some time working abroad. My goal is to someday open my own non-profit that focuses on the empowerment of girls all over the world especially in 3rd world countries.
What is something that no one knows?
AR: I’m afraid that the color of my skin and my ethnic background will hold me back in life despite my efforts. I try to remain confident in my abilities and my future but I am terrified because in some places gender and race play a factor in whether I get hired, if I get a promotion or get equal pay. It’s something that I carry in the back of my mind every single day.
You studied abroad in Spain. How was your experience?
AR: I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain in Spring 2016. I wanted to study abroad because I felt that it was an amazing opportunity to see parts of the world that I’ve only been able to dream about before. I wanted to experience a different way of life and see how others live. I wanted to educate myself beyond textbooks and the opinions of others. Growing up in the south side of Providence, RI you are made to believe that you will never be able to achieve anything greater than high school diploma and a low-income job. That the world was too big to explore. I wanted to challenge that; I believed that even a girl like me could travel the world. Even though it is my first language I also wanted to improve my Spanish and what better place to do so than the home of the Spanish language.
Embarrassing fact: the “Cheetah Girls 2” movie is what initially inspired me to choose Spain.
I enjoyed my experience abroad. I got to see a lot of different countries and cities and meet interesting people. There were hard times for sure, adapting to a new city, a new culture and new people. Being somewhere new can be kind of lonely at times but constantly exploring with new friends made it worthwhile. And of course anywhere you go not everyone is going to welcome you with open arms, but was to be expected. I lived with a host family. My host mother was this worldly feminist who always gave good advice and challenged you with the news of the world.