This month, we had the pleasure of speaking with our very own alum Gleyribel Rodriguez, Mount Pleasant High School class of 2008 and University of Rhode Island class of 2012. Gleyribel is a CV three-fer—a CV alum, a current CV advisor, and a CV donor. Gleyribel is an amazing combination of compassionate and dedicated youth worker, and highly organized fund development coordinator. We are very lucky to work with her. Thank you for sharing your story Gleyribel, and thanks for everything you do to support CV!
How did you get involved with College Visions?
My cousin Glenn was in CV. Simon went to his graduation and Glenn introduced us. Glenn really pushed me to join, and I did even though I didn’t know what I was getting into.
At that point, before you joined CV, what were your college plans?
I knew I wanted to go to college, and my older brother said I had to go. But it was big to even graduate from high school. I definitely didn’t know how to apply to college, or what it would mean for my life.
Can you talk about your CV experience?
When I started the application process, Roger Williams College was my dream school. I didn’t even want to apply to URI, but my CV advisor made me. I got into RWU, and I was so happy, but I didn’t understand how financial aid worked. There was no way I could afford RWU, and without an advisor who made me apply to URI, I don’t know what would have happened. My advisor made me do so many things I didn’t want to do at the time, but now I appreciate it.
How was your experience at URI?
I had a really good experience. It was not like high school at all. I met a lot of great people. I had great professors, and now I have friends who are engineers and teachers, a whole network of people. If I had the choice to make now, I would definitely do it again!
What are your long-term goals?
Ultimately, I’d like to be a lawyer or counselor focused on youth. Coming from Providence, and seeing so many young people in the system, I want to be able to help and support them. I know that I was lucky to have support, and I want to be that person for other kids.
How do you think your own experience as a CV grad shapes your work as a CV advisor?
Sometimes students don’t believe what I’m telling them or don’t want to take my advice. The fact that I’ve been through CV gives me a higher level of comfort with those conversations. It also makes me really happy to be able to give back to a program that helped me, and being happy makes me a better advisor.
What’s your advice for young people thinking about college?
I would say, look at all of your options, weigh them, make lists, be open to the possibilities. It’s not like high school, so you need to be ready for that change. In a few years, you won’t recognize the person you are today. You are ready to do this!
