When walking around campus there is always someone who will be sure to smile and hold the door open for you. Whether he is acting as Vice President at an SGA meeting or busy doing an SI session in CASA for biology, you will never see Ezequiel (Zeke) De Leon with a frown on his face. Zeke is a junior chemistry major with minors in biology and physics. He is an open-minded indivdual with a passion for FSU.Â
What were your expectations coming into college? Were they met?
“I expected greatness and expected to see in whatever I did and do phenomenal in class and in school. For me whenever you put in effort you get the good grades and you get what you want. No matter how hard I tried I got a B or I would forget things or the unexpected happens. Not that I didn’t meet my expectations but I realized that I am human and that’s okay and I can make mistakes. I haven’t settled my expectations but I have become more realistic.”
Who is the most influential person in your life?
“Hands down my mom, Momma Zeke! She is an amazing woman. I don’t even know, my mom is just amazing. She raised us by herself. She was my mother and my father. She’s just a good, kind-hearted person. Even when we had nothing she gave something to someone else. Always a positive influence on other people. Never a moment passed when she wasn’t helping others. She has taught me you can always help someone. If you know someone needs help just do it.”
You are a well-known student leader around campus, how do you manage everything with your busy schedule?
“I feel like I don’t. My adviser this year told me you can only balance three things and balance them exceptionally. In order to balance everything and let things go, I put more attention into some things. A lot of times I cancel dinner with friends or I say I can’t go I have to do this. Public apology to Sydney Hurrel, Shirley Amunya, my friends from home and my cousins
who I have cancelled on multiple times because I have been so busy. You don’t balance everything you just make it through to the other side on a day to day basis.”
What is your guilty pleasure?
“Gilmore Girls. I will sit there and watch just two or three episodes I never regret it. Even though I just spent 2 hours watching it those two hours were needed I never regret it.”
You are stuck in a room and have to binge watch any television series, which would you watch?
“Gilmore girls and Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
If you could be in a relationship with any celebrity, who would it be and why?
“Here’s why dating is so hard. You only want is someone who is wholesome. I want someone who is smart, friendly and if they like their mom they are the one for me. Celebrities who like their moms… I can’t think of a wholesome celebrity.”
What do you think is your best quality?
“I think my best quality is that I care how people feel. If I see that someone is upset or something, I do something about it. I care and don’t want to see someone feel that way. Caring. Seeing that and being able to act on it.”
Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
“Oh my god. I hope to wake up to my own family to my soul mate and to children and my mom. She’s definitely living with us. To an amazing career helping children and helping families. And to be involved in my community. To wake up to breakfast, go to work, help a child or mother and then be able to go to a PTA meeting.”
What is one thing you wish you could change about FSU?
“THE WI-FI! I wish I could change it. Last night I was trying to watch Gilmore girls and I couldn’t because of the Wi-Fi. Another thing is how people feel about FSU. A lot of times people don’t appreciate the school. There is a lot of opportunity here and people willing to help you. People get caught up in their own business and their own lives. If for one year you committed yourself to this school, to joining a club, meeting a mentor, to writing a book or contributing something to the field you’re in. You would be surprised by how much the university will back you up. A lot of people have so many other obligations and it’s easy to get caught up in that so it’s hard to not get into the collegiate experience. But if they tried they would realize how great a place it is.”
Is there anything else that you want people to know about you?
“Oh my god. It’s so funny. I have had a dream that I stand up and tell everyone everything about me they don’t know. I feel like I’m not the type of person who likes to express themselves. I don’t ever say what I’m feeling. And I don’t tell people what’s going on in my life. I don’t want to be about the center of attention. If someone else feels good then I feel good. Even when I’m stressed and having a bad day, when I can have a good conversation with someone that is much more important.
Yes, I do have off days. Yes, I do get annoyed. Yeah, but I think that’s human. Maybe it’s more of just me knowing that.”
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If you want to meet a genuine, kind-hearted person look around campus for Zeke who will always welcome you with a smile!