John Rodriguez

Student

“I really like studying physics with Professor Masada. He is always challenging, but you feel like you really know the subject well.”

John Rodriguez, president of the Pilipino Club, has seen a great deal of the world: the Philippines, America and Germany. But just now, he’s enjoying the relative calm of the SMC campus after taking a little jaunt with the US Army on an operation called Desert Storm. “I joined the Army for three years and went to West Germany as a chemical operations specialist,” says John. “I was in Desert Storm where I handled the masks and chemical suits. We had to be ready in case there was chemical warfare. The whole thing—fighting the Iraqis—was just very scary. But now, at least I’m getting the College Fund,” says John. “I still have to work while I study but that money is really getting me through college.”

John is studying science at SMC and plans to complete his degree in electrical engineering. “I want to get into the computer sciences and be involved with software design,” says John who got accustomed to long hours of study in his native Philippines. “Back home, they really make you study hard in college. Everyone has to take 21 units automatically,” he says. “So taking only 12 units or so here really gives you a lot of free time. But “free time” to John is quickly eaten up by the demands of his duties for the Pilipino Club.

“I work weekends, and then I have to go to officers’ meetings. It’s rough finding the time to study,” says John. “I get off at 10 from work, go home to eat and then study till one in the morning. Then I wake up early and go to back-to-back classes where I have labs in physics and chemistry,” adds John with a sigh. “Sometimes it’s really hard to keep up with all the demands of my ‘free time.’”

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