Jose Rodriguez '24 Recruiting Profile

In a world with uncertainties and undiscovered possibilities, it is my courage and curiosity that pushes me forward and pave the path for my endless search for knowledge. As I dip my toes in the vast ocean that is adult life, my curiosity and courage make my character and are the source of my choices. They are important to my life because they have allowed me to explore new opportunities and step out of my comfort zone to engage with people and organizations I never thought I would be a part of.

From a very young age, I always took an interest in volleyball. Watching my sister play, attending her games/practices, and sometimes getting the chance to play with her myself, my love for the sport only grew bigger. In my junior year of high school decided to build up confidence and ask to be a part of the girls’ volleyball summer program as a manager. This expression of curiosity not only granted me the manager position for my school’s team, but it opened doors to play for a club team outside of school, and now have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in an international tournament in Italy. My courage helped me meet the right people and improve myself mentally and physically.

In my junior year of high school, I heard about the JAG program from one of my friends and gave it a try to experience it my senior year. I thought the Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates (JAG) program would be something easy to relax with but I quickly learned that it wasn’t. However, this is not a bad thing since I would learn that JAG is a program that allows students to learn and experience different careers, and opportunities, and figure out a plan after high school. My curiosity for this program led to a close bond with people I never talked to, getting over my social anxiety, and being able to be myself in front of others unapologetically.