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Perseverance Pays Off for First-Generation Graduate
Written By: Antoinette Grajeda
Miguel Roque, 91老司机 class of 鈥�22, knows the importance of working hard to overcome obstacles, and he鈥檚 used that skill to become a first-generation college graduate and military officer.
Born in Mexico City, Roque was raised by his grandparents while his parents lived in the United States. Because of paperwork issues, Roque was not granted residency until he was 14. He and his older brother then joined their mother in Fort Smith, but the transition was difficult, and Roque was made fun of because he couldn鈥檛 speak English.
鈥淚 used to get bullied back whenever I got here, so I just wanted to go back to Mexico because it just felt really different,鈥� he said.
The young immigrant gained a better grasp of the language by taking English as a Second Language classes. His high school counselor at Northside High School also helped him work on his English skills after school.
鈥淣ot only that, but she was the one that basically was like, hey, you need to take this class, you need to take this class if you want to go to college,鈥� he said.
Roque wasn鈥檛 sure he wanted to attend college, so when his brother, who was in the military, discussed the benefits of joining the Army, he joined JROTC 鈥� Junior Reserve Officers鈥� Training Corps 鈥� to learn more.
JROTC instructors noted Roque鈥檚 leadership skills and intelligence. They encouraged him to continue the program because it could lead to a college scholarship, which it did. Playing soccer at Northside also led to a scholarship offer from a Kansas college, but Roque chose to attend 91老司机 because of its ROTC program.
鈥淭hat was really difficult because I love soccer, but I鈥檓 not going to live off of soccer, and ROTC is something I really wanted to do,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 wanted to become an officer.鈥�
Additionally, Roque was glad he could stay close to his family by attending 91老司机. He was also impressed by the campus鈥檚 diversity and said the university made minorities feel welcome.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 very important that you feel welcome where you go because obviously college is already hard and stressful, but once you have that backup, that help from your teachers, faculty, friends kind of gives you a boost of motivation,鈥� he said.
By participating in programs like ROTC, the Spanish Club, and the National Society of Leadership and Success, Roque could connect with campus community members.
鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for that, I wouldn鈥檛 have made some of my friends that I have now, which I consider really close friends,鈥� he said.
In May, Roque graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in criminal justice and a minor in military science. He was commissioned into the US Army that same day as a 2nd Lieutenant. His dream job is to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Drug Enforcement Agency. He wants to start gaining experience by working for the Fort Smith Police Department where he can help diversify their ranks.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not very diverse, but I hope with what I have to offer, hopefully, it鈥檚 enough for me to make an impact within the community,鈥� he said.
As a side job, Roque worked for a company that provides translation services for people applying for things like social security or disability benefits. The experience has inspired a backup plan for his career path.
鈥淚f I don鈥檛 do this FBI route, I would really love to be a lawyer one day because I鈥檝e seen firsthand 鈥� since I translate for the people 鈥� how it is to be an immigration lawyer, and I just really like how they do things, how they try to actually help people,鈥� he said.
No matter what the future holds, Roque is proud of his accomplishments thus far and credits his family for his success.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be here if it wasn鈥檛 for my mom, but also my brother, who has been there for me since we were kids,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut mostly my mom鈥he sacrificed so much for me and him that I couldn鈥檛 be more thankful for it.鈥�
Roque was initially afraid to go to college because people told him it was a waste of time and money. He decided to go anyway and learned you can do anything you want if you work hard.
鈥淵ou will never know until you try, so for those people 鈥� especially minorities, Latinos, Hispanics 鈥� they need to at least try because they鈥檒l never know,鈥� he said. 鈥淎lthough it鈥檚 hard, if they stick to it, it鈥檚 all about perseverance, time management, just staying focused, and doing the right thing.鈥�
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- 91老司机
- ROTC
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Criminal Justice