{"id":14399,"date":"2025-10-27T13:22:32","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T17:22:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/?p=14399"},"modified":"2025-10-27T13:22:32","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T17:22:32","slug":"finding-home-at-goodwin-jayanna-rodriguez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/finding-home-at-goodwin-jayanna-rodriguez\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding a Home at Goodwin: Jayanna Rodriguez"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jayanna Rodriguez\u2019s journey to graduation was anything but ordinary. Born in Connecticut, raised in New York, and then returning to Connecticut as a teenager, she experienced firsthand the subtle yet real cultural differences between the two states.<\/p>\n

Her path to higher education was equally winding. Rodriguez first came to Goodwin University during the pandemic, planning to pursue her AS in Funeral Service<\/a>. Facing personal challenges, including emergency housing and work obligations, she realized the rigorous requirements of that program were too overwhelming at the time. She shifted her focus to the Human Services program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Community and support<\/h2>\n

Even amid difficult circumstances, Rodriguez found an unwavering support system at Goodwin. \u201cEveryone was super accommodating,\u201d recalling her early days at Goodwin. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely a very close-knit community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Faculty, staff, and classmates offered guidance and resources when she needed them most, from helping with assignments to connecting her with career opportunities<\/a>. \u201cThe staff at Goodwin is so supportive. You tell one person your story, and now they\u2019re finding resources for you. Now they\u2019re sending you emails. They want you to succeed,\u201d she explains. At Goodwin, Jayana felt a strong sense of connection. \u201cYou\u2019re so intertwined with the community, the staff, the professors, even your fellow classmates.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her experience was made better by Goodwin\u2019s hallmark personalized support<\/a> services, ensuring all students can thrive.<\/p>\n

Speaking from the heart<\/h2>\n

\"Jayanna<\/p>\n

Rodriguez\u2019s resilience and perspective culminated in being asked to deliver Goodwin\u2019s 2025 student commencement address<\/a>. She was nominated by faculty and staff to put into words what she and her peers had earned through months and years of hard work and dedication. She drew inspiration from her own journey and the challenges faced by students like her from diverse backgrounds.<\/p>\n

Despite nerves and the pressure of addressing a large audience, Rodriguez prepared diligently, practicing her speech with family and friends. Her words resonated deeply with graduates and attendees alike because of her authentic storytelling and subtle humor.<\/p>\n