Thursday, April 9, 1998
Realbruins
PEOPLE: Sometimes doing it all can take a little extra
time – like six years
By Carol McKay
Daily Bruin Staff
"Man, it’s packed," said Rod Gomez, a sixth-year economics
student, as he entered the Cooperage. Sitting down with a chicken
sandwich a la carte – hold the mayo – he began to tell the story of
his family’s emigration from Nicaragua, his work with
Latin-American students and how he got to UCLA.
"When I was in high school, I was pretty good at basketball," he
said. Good enough to be entertaining offers from divisions two and
three schools. "Not any division one, ’cause I wasn’t that good.
But the summer before my senior year I tore my anterior cruciate
ligament."
The injury, he explained, meant that his phone would stop
ringing. All colleges but one (a Claremont school) lost interest,
and Gomez wasn’t left with many athletic options.
"But then UCLA accepted me, and I decided to follow
academics."
His decision wasn’t an easy one. A half dozen years later, he is
as devoted to the sport as always.
"Basketball is my love. I think everyone should have a love,
something to be passionate about. I mean if I feel bad, I can go
out an shoot baskets and feel 10 times better," Gomez said.
So staying close to the sport was essential, and he immediately
became involved with the women’s basketball team. He started out as
a member of the scout team that practices with the women, and
eventually moved up to one of the top positions, assistant
manager.
Gomez hopes his interest in sports, especially basketball, will
carry over into the next phase of his life.
"My number one idea right now is to get into sports marketing.
My managing for the basketball team may be a step in the doorway
for that. Ideally, I’d like to work for Reebok or Nike."
The current controversy involving Nike’s use of sweatshops is
one that causes concern for Gomez, as a young student who dreams of
working for the company.
"They obviously need to keep their businesses going, but I do
not agree with them taking advantage of people who are struggling
to survive," he says.
The issue is personal for Gomez. Born in Nicaragua, Gomez and
his family left the war-torn country when he was four. His parents
feared that their older son would be enlisted, and Gomez’s father
came to the United States before the rest of his family in order to
find work. His first American job was in a sweatshop.
Gomez, who said he barely remembers Nicaragua, was too young to
work when his family moved to the United States. His older
siblings, however, found jobs in order to support their mother
after their parents divorced. None were able to focus on receiving
an education.
For Gomez, however, things were different. His family pushed him
to go to college, and when he receives his diploma in June, he will
be the first in his family with a university degree.
"Graduation this year is very important. I’ve done it," Gomez
said, adding that nearing the close of his time at UCLA has
inspired self-reflection.
"I consider myself a little successful. But I wonder sometimes,
did I do it more for my family or for myself?"
High school, he knows, was for his mother. "I would bring home
straight A’s and she would get so happy. When I bring home the
diploma, I want to see that flood of happiness. My love for her
drives me to do the things I do."
Of course, Gomez has an ego that also contributes to his
ambitions. He describes himself as a confident person. "Even
borderline cocky," he said, although he doesn’t consider
overconfidence a bad thing.
Often friends are shocked that he hasn’t begun interviewing for
positions or worrying about getting a job after graduation. "I’m
not worried. I think I’m very marketable," he said.
And he’s right. In addition to being assistant manager for the
women’s basketball team, Gomez is a student supervisor at Pauley
Pavilion and an officer in the Society of Latino Engineers and
Scientists (SOLES).
Gomez has endured several tragedies during his time at UCLA,
including the deaths of two very close friends and a personal
crisis that forced him to take a year off from school. He’s also
completed several summer internships with businesses including IBM
and been active in campus programs such as Bruin Woods.
It may have taken Gomez six years (and most likely a few more
classes next fall) to do it, but he’s made sure that every second
counted.
During basketball season, Gomez’s managing consumed at least 25
hours each week, which he called a conservative estimate. On top of
that, he works almost every weekend at Pauley setting up for events
and supervising. He also spends the rest of his time trying to
balance SOLES activities with studying.
"The last time I had a full Christmas break to myself was three
years ago," he said. Although things are much less hectic during
the off-season, he still performs a balancing act between his other
activities and school. And when he gets home at night, the only
priority is sleep.
"Reading," he laughed, "is the worst. I am always behind."
But he is quick to add that it’s all for a good cause. As a
member of SOLES, Gomez emphasizes the challenges created by the
current anti-affirmative action trend. Students who may already be
disadvantaged endure extra hurdles in the sciences.
"Engineering is a tough major. You need a lot of help. So that’s
where our emphasis is placed, on helping our own, especially
Latinos," Gomez said.
Gomez was one of those incoming freshmen targeted by SOLES when
he entered UCLA six years ago. Two weeks before classes began, he
and the others stayed at a hotel, attended practice lectures and,
most of all, bonded.
"The year I did it, my group stuck together like glue," he said.
But soon he discovered that his interest in the sciences had
faded.
"The material wasn’t interesting to me. There was a lot of
programming, a lot of debugging and a lot of being in labs from
eight in the morning until two in the afternoon, which I wasn’t
into. So I switched. But I didn’t want to switch the people I hang
out with," Gomez said.
So he didn’t. In fact, as a newly-declared economics student,
Gomez became even more active in SOLES, and this year serves as
vice president.
Much of SOLES involves recruiting incoming freshmen, through
programs such as the upcoming Women in Science and Engineering Day
(WISE), an event sponsored by two other campus groups. Female high
school students will have the opportunity to learn about both
student life and career options in the sciences.
WISE is just one of numerous events put on by SOLES each year.
At a recent officers meeting, discussion turned towards the
successes and failures of such mentor programs.
"(Students) make a conscious decision not to attend," reported
Secretary Monica Rodas, a fourth-year chemical engineering
student.
"You should get a keg for the women’s dinner," offered a smiling
Gomez. "Then they’d come."
The proposed solution, met by both laughter and rolled eyes,
didn’t last long on the floor, and reports of a recent event’s
success dominated conversation.
"There are certain times," that make it all worth it, says
Gomez. "Like during high school tours or when we get evaluation
forms back that say ‘I can’t wait to go to college’. That’s when
you feel good about what you’re doing."
(Left) Rodrigo Gomez works out at L.A. Fitness in Westwood.
(Below) Gomez walks inside Pauley Pavilion, where he is a staff
member.
Photos by MICHAEL ROSS WACHT/Daily Bruin
Gomez attends a meeting of the Society of Latin American
Engineers, where he is the vice president.