{ ALUMNI Profile } Edward Rodriguez, ’21 B.S. Psychology
Veteran grad’s mission is to aid fellow comrades by STEPHANIE VILLAFUERTE
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hen he was a senior in high school, Edward Rodriguez knew he wanted to take on something other than college. He wanted stories to tell his children, to honor a legacy, and to live among a community that he could call family. It wasn’t until he heard about his cousin’s experience that Rodriguez realized where that could be found: the U.S. Marine Corps. “My older cousin had been in the Marine Corps at the beginning of the Iraq War and I remember always listening to his stories with such fascination,” Rodriguez said. “I wanted what he had.” After graduation, the Santa Barbara native enlisted and was stationed in Twenty-Nine Palms, California. He served as an infantryman in Afghanistan in 2012 and later in Iraq in 2014. The veteran came out of his five-year service with comrades he considered brothers, and a completely new mindset. “During my time overseas, I learned that our life, our show, could end in the blink of an eye and we have such a small role in it. I try to play my role as best as I can. I served with many great men and now honor the legacy of those who are gone.” But the aftermath also left a heavy toll on Rodriguez. Several of his friends were suffering from PTSD, some of which resulted in suicide. The events led him to start a new chapter of his life. Namely, college. “I wanted to see what might’ve led to their decision,” Rodriguez explained. “So, I decided to study psychology because I wanted to understand the human mind and how experiences such as war can affect us.” The first-generation student attended Santa Barbara City College before transferring to CSUCI in 2019. Aside from wanting to be near his family, Rodriguez chose the campus because of the positive reviews he heard about its programs. His experience exceeded his expectations. Psychology Lecturer Susan Beers taught Rodriguez to love the scien-
tific method and objectivity, while History Professors Frank Barajas and Marie Francois taught him about his Mexican heritage and the pride it came with. “I can honestly say that some of the faculty members I interacted with at CSUCI changed my entire outlook on life for the better,” Rodriguez said. “I owe these three individuals more than they may ever know.” Rodriguez graduated in Spring 2021 with his bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in History. He is now studying for his master’s degree in Sociology at CSU San Marcos. The graduate wants to use his education to understand and help others. It’s a mission of his that has grown exponentially in the last year and a half, amidst the global pandemic. > READ MORE AT GO.CSUCI.EDU/CHANNEL-ER Photo Courtesy of Edward Rodriguez
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