June 06, 2011
Shamil Rodriguez ’10C doesn’t simply break stereotypes – he
shatters them and throws away the pieces.
Only
24 years old, he has already served as Field Director on the
campaign staff of a prominent United States Congressman, currently
influences public policy as a Junior Lobbyist for one of New
Jersey’s premier firms and was recently appointed as a Member of
the Board of Trustees of Mercer County Community College.
Pretty impressive for someone who was a college student himself
only a year ago.
“I have to say that, for me, it’s never been about my age,” he
said. “For as long as I can remember, if I wanted to accomplish
something, I made up my mind to do everything that I could to make
it happen. I never really thought about being too young to do
something, especially if it was something that would let me make a
difference for others. There was a lot of talk about my age when I
was being interviewed by the Mercer County Freeholders for a
position on the [Mercer County Community College] Board. What I
said was that I didn’t want the focus to be just about my age, but
also about my mind set. I really believe that my commitment is what
sets me apart from many other people my age.”
Rodriguez traces his determination to leave his mark on the world
to the influence of his father, who was injured while serving in
the military in Iraq. The elder Rodriguez wanted something better
for his son, and insisted that he take advantage of the opportunity
to become the first in his family to pursue a college education, a
challenge that he readily accepted.
“My father is my rock,” he proudly remarked. “He brought a lot of
discipline into my life from when he was in the military, and he’s
the foundation of my belief that I can achieve my dreams through
hard work and honest effort. I saw what happened to my father and
others like him in the Iraq War, and decided that I would be able
to do more good by getting an education and being one of the
decision makers. As I look back, that’s what really changed my life
and got me interested in politics as a way to bring about
change.”
The young man from suburban New Jersey chose St. John’s University
as the ideal place to earn his degree in Government and Politics.
He wanted to study at a Catholic university with an excellent
academic reputation, one with a diverse student population that
would allow him to interact with people he might otherwise never
have met. After only one campus visit, Rodriguez knew that he had
made the right choice.
In typical fashion, he made the most of his St. John’s experience,
serving as a Resident Advisor in the on-campus Residence Village
while continuing his political involvement through membership in
the St. John’s College Democrats, a student organization of which
he ultimately became President. He also took part in a variety of
service activities, particularly the Midnight Runs in which
students bring food and clothing to the homeless of New York
City.
“The community service opportunities that I had at St. John’s were
great,” he said. “The University has always been firm about
teaching the importance of human values, about stepping outside of
our own needs and doing what we can to make the world a better
place for everyone. Those values were always important to me, and
after spending my years at St. John’s they’ve blossomed even
further. What I’m doing right now, especially in my new position as
a member of the Board of Trustees of my hometown community college,
wouldn’t have been possible so early in my life without what I
experienced at St. John’s.”
Rodriguez sees his Board membership as a way to bring the needs and
concerns of the students to attention of the college
administration. He feels that if the students see a person on the
Board who’s close to their age, looks like them and comes from a
similar background, they’ll have a role model to help them realize
that there’s much that they can do for themselves if they’re
willing to make the effort.
"I believe that there are a lot more people who are out there in my
age range who just need an opportunity to step up and be noticed,”
he said. "I think that my position on the Board can inspire
others to turn their own dreams into reality. For me, serving
on the Board is a kind of conduit to motivate others to do the same
with whatever their goals might be. I’ve always believed that you
have to be committed to a cause, and if you’re willing to put that
commitment to work, anything can happen.”