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chris rodriques

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Finalist

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Counseling And Therapy

Reading

-

Bio

I am a driven, determined student pursuing degrees in nursing and healthcare administration at East Texas A&M University, with the goal of becoming a psychiatric/mental health nurse. My path has not been easy, but it has shaped me into the man and student I am today. I became a father at 18, and from that moment forward, I worked security jobs to make ends meet for my daughter and me. Three years ago, I was working security and checking IDs outside a bar. Today, I am a college senior on the President's Honor Roll (4.0 GPA). This journey has taught me resilience, sacrifice, and the importance of never giving up on the life you know you are meant to build. A major turning point in my life came when a patron at a bar where I worked security invited me to become a certified crisis counselor with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. That experience lit a fire in me and gave me a deeper sense of purpose. It showed me that I am meant to serve others in a meaningful way. Crisis counseling has allowed me to work with people during their most difficult moments. I learned how to listen without judgment, respond with compassion, and help people feel seen and supported. It strengthened my belief that mental health care should be compassionate, accessible, and rooted in dignity. Receiving scholarships would ease the financial burden of finishing my education and help me keep moving toward the future I have worked hard for. I want to become a healthcare professional who makes a real difference, and I am committed to using my education to serve others with compassion, purpose, and care.

Education

Texas A & M University-Commerce

Bachelor's degree program

2025 – 2027

Majors:
  • Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
  • Health and Medical Administrative Services
  • Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus, Texas Tech University, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
Majors of interest:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other, Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other, Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Hospitality Administration/Management
Desired degree modality:
Full-Time
Medical school interest:
No

Career

  • Crisis Counselor Lead

    Mental Health Care · 988 Suicide and Crisis Life Line

    Jan 2024 – Present

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Healthcare Administration, Management Consulting, Mental Health Care, Nursing, Hospital & Health Care
Work experience:
10+ years
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
chris rodriques Student Profile | Bold.org