Originally born in Puerto Rico and later moved to Rochester, NY, Dabdiel Ramos, a sophomore at St. Bonaventure University has experienced two extremely different places that have shaped who he is today. Dabdiel can fluently speak Spanish and English, and his first language is Spanish, since he’s originally from Puerto Rico. When he talks about Puerto Rico, he describes it as “amazing and fun.” He is proud of coming from Puerto Rican culture and being able to reflect on where he came from. Moving to Rochester in 2013 was a big change for him, and he says that it often makes him miss his Puerto Rican roots. One thing people might not know is that although he was born in Puerto Rico, it is still part of the United States!
If you asked Dabdiel to describe himself, he’d ask you to call him “Dab,” he’d call himself hilarious, outgoing, kind, and extremely talkative. His friends would probably agree, describing him as outgoing, funny, and just a man with a big heart. He’s the type of person who says that he would do anything for someone he loves and cares for as well as someone who needs help. His kindness is just another trait he hopes people remember about him.
His journey through life has brought him to St. Bonaventure University, where he is studying sports media. He originally started college studying sports management but came to the realization that sports media was a better fit for him. He felt that he understood the field better and that he would receive more opportunities in his future. He chose Bonaventure because of the opportunities the school offered through the program he is in (HEOP, the Higher Education Opportunity Program). This program has allowed him to attend college for free.
One of his favorite parts of being at Bonaventure has been meeting new people and getting the different kinds of opportunities he maybe couldn’t have gotten when he lived in Puerto Rico. He’s involved in club baseball, LASO (Latin American Student Organization), HEOP, and a few intramural sports (including dodgeball). College has also helped him learn more about different cultures and understand people from different backgrounds. One of his favorite memories from college so far was meeting his girlfriend, Brenna, which has made his overall cllege experience even more meaningful.
Baseball has played a major role in shaping who he is today. Through baseball, he learned that failing or making a mistake doesn’t mean you should just give up. It relates to how even if you fail countless times, eventually you will succeed–you’ll just have to try again. That mindset has followed him outside of baseball and into other parts of his life, like his relationships, friendships, family, school, and more.
He considers his mom one of his biggest influences in his life overall. He says that she sacrificed everything for her family and made the impossible possible, and because of her, making it to college and getting in is something he is especially proud of from himself.
Another experience that impacted his perspective on life was losing his best friend. Going through that loss truly taught him to appreciate the time he has with the people around him that he loves and cares for, because you never know what could happen tomorrow. It’s a lesson that has made him value his friendships and the moments he gets to share with others.
Outside of school, Dab enjoys playing baseball, playing video games, listening to Spanish music, his mom’s cooking, watching the show The Rookie, and if you know him, sleeping. His friends know him for being a baseball fanatic, but they also like to tease him about his height and his forehead.
Looking forward to the future, Dab hopes to work with a professional sports team. One of his biggest goals is to be known for something important and to spend his life chasing his true dreams. More than anything, he wants people to remember the kindness in his soul and his willingness to help people in need.
When asked how he would describe this point in his life, he said “it’s been a wonderful adventure in my life. Hopefully I can do more.” For Dabdiel, his story is still being written, and he hopes the next chapters bring even more opportunities to grow, succeed, and make a difference.