Until recently, Emanuel Rodriguez compared his life situation to the video game Deathground. It's a self-described survival horror game that throws players into a desperate battle for survival against deadly Artificial Intelligence Dinosaurs. "I was at a certain age where I didn't have any other choices. Either I start to do good or I fall down the rabbit hole."
His determination to change his life brought him to Onondaga Community College one year ago. He had battled drug use and decided he wanted to work with others in similar situations, leading him to choose the Human Services degree program. "My goal is to help people like myself, people going through addiction, people who think they probably wouldn't get a second chance."
Shortly after arriving on campus, he was invited into the Meg O'Connell Center for Social Justice and Community Impact on the first floor of Coulter Hall by Chief Diversity Officer Eunice Williams. "She's an angel without wings. Maybe she has spiritual wings. She's made it so I don't feel too much of the pressure to do well and graduate. She's been awesome. Every day she asks me if I am hungry, if I want this, if I want that. No one has ever done that for me. I've never met anyone who is so selfless."
Rodriguez's OCC experience has also been impacted positively by Shayne Turo '23, a Technical Assistant in the office as well as Program Coordinator for the Extraordinary Men of Distinction. "He always has positive vibes. Every time I see him, it's a fist bump and 'how you doin'?' I never know if he's having a bad day. He's an extension of Dr. Williams. They work really well together. Without that office, it would be a hundred times more difficult."
During his time on campus Rodriguez has become a member of the Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging Council, the Unity Day Student Committee, and the Extraordinary Men of Distinction. "They are important in every aspect of my life here. I feel included. Everyone takes the time to help each other and help others. We all work together like a team."
Now at age 35, Rodriguez is proud of the path he's on. He's working as a supervisor at the Van Duyn Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, and he's two semesters away from completing his Human Services degree. "I went through some issues and didn't think I would ever go to college. I was given the opportunity to change my life and I took it. I'm focused on making up for lost time."
