This week’s campus celebrity is none other than our newly crowned Homecoming King Rhondel Whyte, the infamous “Trinidadian guy.” He is not your ordinary senior at USF. Whyte is the epitome of charming. His style commands attention and his smooth accent mesmerizes all. I had the pleasure to interview Whyte despite his busy schedule and several obligations at USF. During this interview, I discovered that Whyte is definitely not your typical guy. Whyte is a leader with a heart for the international community.
What is your major at USF?
I’m double majoring in engineering and Mandarin Chinese.
What extracurricular activities do you participate in?
I’m the president of my fraternity, Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity Incorporated. I’m the vice president of operations for USF Ambassadors. I’m also a resident assistant and I’m involved in the Caribbean Culture Exchange. I also work with the INTO population as an INTO student leader.
Tell me something about yourself that people don’t know?
I’m kind of a shy guy from time to time even though people don’t believe it. I refuse to be shy. Intrinsically, I’m a shy person but the person that I want to be isn’t shy. So, I force myself not to be shy.
So, you’re from Trinidad. What is the culture like?
It’s a very friendly culture. It’s very open. Everyone is very nice, kind and loving. There’s a saying that “it takes a village to raise a family.” Trinidad is literally that. It’s one big family. The main goal is not to pursue or chase wealth. The main goal is to have a good time, enjoy life and build bonds that will last forever.
Do you remember your first day at USF?
I was 18 years old. It was weird going to places and not recognizing a single face. It was weird not being acknowledged. I thought no one at USF liked me, but I realized people didn’t understand me at all because I had a thick accent and I spoke too fast. People wouldn’t answer my questions. I would ask a question like “What time is it?” and they would only respond “yeah”.
How did you become part of the USF community?
After I learned to slow my speech and enunciate my words better, I joined a fraternity in my second semester of my freshman year. When I went out I was known as that “Trinidadian” guy. I made a lot of new connections and that sparked the beginning my experience at USF.
Tell me more about Sigma Lambda Beta?
All fraternities have brotherhood, scholarship and community service. The difference between my fraternity and others is that we have a multicultural emphasis. Instead of being around one particular type of person I’m around people from Bosnia, Germany, Puerto Rico and more.
How has being a brother in your fraternity affected you?
I only had a sister growing up. I had no positive male role models in my life. Being in a fraternity has taught me what it means to be a man and how to succeed.
What has your experience as a USF Ambassador been like?
USF Ambassadors has allowed me to connect with people who are on different planes within their life beyond students. I get to meet alumni, faculty, staff and even the university president. They have inspired me. Before I just wanted to get a degree, but now I want to get a degree to make a difference, apply it and change the world.
What has your experience as a resident assistant been like?
I chose to be in the RA position because I didn’t have the best RA my freshman year. He really didn’t push me to get involved on campus. I wanted the opportunity to shape residents’ first-year experience.
What has your experience been at INTO USF?
I’ve been able to interact with international students with different backgrounds and languages. Because of my work at INTO USF, I’ve also realized that there’s only so much that I can do when I don’t speak someone else’s language. There’s a quote that says “if you speak to a man in his second language, you speak to his mind. If you speak to man in his first language, you speak to his heart.” That’s the reason why I picked up Mandarin Chinese.
What does the future hold for you?
That’s a mystery. Only God knows where I will be. I would like to work with an engineering company and use my linguistic talents, leadership ability and newfound knowledge to expand their company to places like China. After making connections and working for a couple of years, I would like to go back to Trinidad and get involved with politics.
What were your motivations for running for Homecoming King?
A lot of internationals don’t come to Homecoming events. USF is one of the most diverse schools in the nation, but the diversity stays within the academia. Homecoming is a brand new concept to us. I feel as a Homecoming King that I will have the pull to get international students to come out to more events like these.