Dec. 12, 2018
By Somaia Hassan
Editor
For the month of December, The Lighthouse turns the spotlight over to senior Ruby Rodrigues.
During her years at LHS, Rodrigues has become a role model for other students by holding leadership positions in school and in the community.
Rodrigues utilizes her leadership skills as president of the Future Business Leaders of America and public relations manager for the Class of 2019. Additionally, she co-coaches a soccer team for kindergartners and is a member of the yearbook staff.
Rodrigues said she is most passionate about FBLA because upon graduating LHS, she intends to enter into a five year accelerated Business Administration program.
“I felt a bond with FBLA that I didn’t feel with anything else,” Rodrigues said. “I didn’t feel a connection like I felt with business.”
Last year, Rodrigues and her partner Susane Morozewicz placed third in the state for social media campaigning. This year, Rodrigues said she is once again looking to be successful in the FBLA competition. She said her goal is to attend the national championship, which will take place in June 2019 in San Antonio, Texas.
Rodrigues said FBLA is a great way to give back to others because of the community service opportunities it provides its members. Rodrigues has participated in the town clean-up, Thanksgiving dinner for senior citizens and food drive.
She said her positions as FBLA president and public relations manager of her class council complement each other because they both allow her to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
“A lot of our hard work is shown off, and we get rewarded by seeing our classmates being happy and enjoying the events that we put together,” Rodrigues said about her involvement in class council.
She said her leadership in student government aligns with her professional goals.
“What inspired me to go for the public relations position is again my love for business because it’s about running the class’ social media accounts, so it’s basically marketing, and I felt it would be something I would be proficient at,” Rodrigues said.
Spanish teacher and FBLA advisor Mrs. Silvelo said Rodrigues is destined to be a leader.
“She’s very attuned with what others need and how she can be the facilitator in helping them get to that goal,” Silvelo said.
Rodrigues said she is also proud that she and senior Elena Perez stepped up to organize a school walkout last April in response to the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
“I emailed the administration talking about how I felt about the topic, and I told them that whether they agree or disagree, we’re going to do the walkout anyways,” Rodrigues said. “I appreciated the support they gave me through it because… it made it a lot easier to coordinate.”
She said preparing for the walkout required her to do research and exercise strong organizational skills.
“We had to draw an agenda for the day, make sure the security is good and we had to address what we would be doing with seniors who had senior privilege,” Rodrigues said.
Class Council member and FBLA officer senior Susane Morozewicz said when she thinks of Rodrigues, the words determination, leadership, creativity and overall excellence come to mind.
“Ruby is a people person,” Morozewicz said. “Ruby creates genuine relationships with everyone that crosses her path.”
In addition to being so personable, Morozewicz said Rodrigues is extremely determined.
“Ruby is one of the most persistent people I have ever met. She knows what she wants and will do whatever it takes to achieve her objective,” said Morozewicz.
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