“What inspired me to be in engineering is to see what I could do for the future of our world—an efficient future and a clean future,” said Ariel Colón-Rodríguez in a WCU student video about his emotional journey growing up in Puerto Rico, relocating, discovering WCU, studying mechanical engineering, and preparing for graduate school.
“(My dad) wanted to bring us all along, but he couldn’t afford it. He told us, ‘Hey, I’m going to find a job, I’m going to find a house, and I’m going to bring you guys along a year later.’…If (my parents) didn’t do that sacrifice, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Colón-Rodríguez said.
Watch the WCU video featuring his story.