Alexa Rodriguez (BA, '25, Latina/Latino studies and sociology)
About Alexa
I am a first-generation college student from the south side of Chicago. I am currently the Student Outreach and Media Coordinator for the Department of LLS. I love exploring new places, especially coffee shops. My favorite coffee shop on campus is BrewLab; off campus, it's 7Brew and The Literary. I have currently been loving a good honey lavender iced latte. Whenever I get the chance, I love being outside in nature, and my go-to place to enjoy the day is Carle Park or Bussey Woods. I am binge-watching The Handmaid’s Tale and La Que No Podía Amar. I am nervous but excited to graduate soon!
Why LLS?
I chose LLS because I knew that I wanted to work with the Latinx community after undergrad and learn more about my community. I immediately felt at home when I started taking more LLS classes. In most of my classes, I was surrounded by people who looked like me and had similar experiences. Because of that, I felt vulnerable in sharing my personal experiences and contributing to the important topics we’d discuss in class. My amazing professors also made the class so much more enjoyable. I loved how dedicated and knowledgeable our LLS professors are and how much they care for their students. My favorite LLS course are: Race and Politics of Reproduction (Dr. Lira), Latina/o Migration (Dr. Ramirez) and Latina/os and the City.
Plans after graduation?
After graduation, I will be taking a gap year. During that time, I hope to work with students, specifically helping them with their postsecondary plans. After the year, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in counseling.
Advice for undergraduate students
They weren’t lying when they said these four years would fly by. I encourage you to enjoy every second of it and take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way. I wish I had gotten more involved on campus, so I urge you all to get involved, not only to gain experience but also to make new connections! I also encourage you all to make connections with your professors. I never thought I would get close to any of my professors, but they have been incredibly influential in my academic success. I always loved it when they fed my brain lots of knowledge. They want to see us win and will always cheer us along the way.
Who or what inspired you most during your time here?
I met Xavy Ramirez during my first year on campus, and he has inspired me so much that I now do research, something I never imagined I would do! He continues to inspire me and support my dreams. Everything I do is for my family, and most importantly, to make my late sister proud.