Nicolle Rodriguez
Volunteer, Open Hearts Open Doors
East Elmhurst
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Nicolle Rodriguez volunteers with Rodolfo Rodriguez, her father, who runs an organization called Open Hearts Open Doors, Inc. This organization fundraises and connects sick children from Latin America with hospitals in the United States, so that they can receive treatment for their illnesses here. Rodriguez hosts the children and their parent’s in her home and helps to make their experience in New York as pleasurable as she can, considering the circumstances. She cooks them dinner, teaches them how to cook and takes them around the city. “I want them to forget the reason why they here and enjoy themselves a little bit,” Rodriguez said.
PERSONAL: Rodriguez, 29, was born in Connecticut moved to East Elmhurst seven years ago. She graduated from Greenwich High School and attended the University of Connecticut for two years. She then transferred to DeVry University where she received her degree in Business Management with a concentration in Small Business and Entrepreneurship. She currently attends The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) and will graduate this May, with a Pastry Arts degree.
JOB: Rodriguez works fulltime as the daytime manager at Faces&Names Lounge and Bar in Manhattan.
PROUDEST MOMENT: Her proudest moment is achieving her Business Management degree from DeVry University. “I earned my degree all by myself and having my family watch me get it made me the proudest I’ve ever been,” said Rodriguez.
FAVORITE MOMENT: Rodriguez’s favorite moment was seeing herself in her uniform for the first time on her first day at ICE. “Right at that moment, I knew what my goal was and felt really happy about finally working on it,” she said.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Her biggest challenge is time management. “Balancing school, work, helping my dad with his organization and making time for my family is definitely my most difficult challenge at the moment,” said Rodriguez.
INSPIRATION: Her inspiration comes completely from her father. “My dad is my inspiration. I always saw him working hard to help people in need. He taught me to work hard for the things I want in life, and that’s exactly what I’m doing,” she said. – Rosmaliz Valdes
Post a Comment