Rina Hernandez

Rina Hernandez, a 2020 Dover High School graduate, is passionate about helping bridge the language gap for Spanish-speaking students who are not fluent in English. A self-described Hispanic first-generation student, Hernandez was born in New York to a Guatemalan mother and a Salvadoran father who encouraged her to further her education and go to college. At Western Connecticut State University, Hernandez is majoring in Secondary English Education and minoring in Spanish, and will graduate in May 2024.

She feels so strongly about helping her first-generation peers, that Hernandez was a featured speaker at a recent campus event called “Navigating College for Success: First Generation Student Perspectives.”

“Being a first-generation college student can be difficult,” Hernandez said. “We have so many expectations set for ourselves, but we also have all these people who came before us, people we want to make proud. It can be easy to overwhelm yourself with all the questions and confusion about college. Don’t try to do it all by yourself. My most significant advice, as cliche as it sounds, is to connect with people on campus. Having an on-campus job helped me more than I could have ever imagined. If you have the opportunity, apply for an on-campus job and make connections with the people who work at said job. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; there are no bad questions.”

Hernandez has balanced her coursework with a job as a student administrative assistant in the university’s Institutional Advancement Office, a paid internship with a social sciences professor, and a study-abroad experience in London at the University of Roehampton.

“College can be an overwhelming experience because of the academics and other factors, such as finances,” Hernandez said. “I feel blessed to have worked in the Institutional Advancement Office since I was a sophomore because the people there helped me immensely. First, they informed me about the many scholarships WCSU offered. I was not fully aware about the scholarships WCSU offered my freshman year, but during my sophomore year, I applied for scholarships and received the Isabelle T. Farrington scholarship. While working at this office, I also received support because I was directed to the right people whenever I had questions about financial aid or other things.”

In much the same way that her student job provided answers, her internship awakened her interest in advocacy.

“My internship with Professor of Sociology Dr. Carina Bandhauer started in August 2021,” Hernandez said. “During this time, I was president of the WCSU Beyond Borders club, and I worked with Dr. Bandhauer and the other students in the club to plan events that raised awareness for the undocumented community and advocated for undocumented issues. We hosted ‘Breaking Down the Borders of Oppression,’ a panel discussion with undocumented WCSU alumni and current students. We also collaborated with Pre-Collegiate and Access Programs, World Languages and Cultures Department, LASO, and the Office of Intercultural Affairs to host events such as ‘Bailando with the Community’ during the fall 2022 semester. All the funds raised during this event went to the Puerto Rican Humanitarian Aid Relief Fund because Hurricane Fiona had impacted Puerto Rico. Additionally, I attended the UndocuAlly Taskforce meetings and acted as a student liaison. It was a great experience, and I learned so much about advocacy work.”

Hernandez’s study-abroad experience also opened her eyes to a larger world.

“My study-abroad experience was through the International Student Exchange Program, or ISEP,” Hernandez said. “WCSU’s International Services Coordinator Donna Warner helped me through the process and was very supportive. The whole experience was amazing, and I am so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to study abroad. London is a beautiful place and one of the best places to study abroad. I met many people from other countries and schools in the U.S. I formed life-long friendships during this experience, and WCSU does a great job with the program.”

Hernandez was also a Kathwari Honors Student during her time at WCSU, and benefitted from the tailored learning experience provided by the program.

She has a long list of professors who favorably impacted her time at WCSU. “Dr. Shouhua Qi (now retired) from the English Department, Dr. Galina Bakhtiarova from the World Languages and Cultures Department, Dr. Catherine O’Callaghan and Professor Patricia Michael from the Education Department, and Dr. Carina Bandhauer from the Social Sciences Department, have all provided me with the support I needed,” Hernandez said. “They always answered my questions about the university and improved my experience at the school. These professors provided me with opportunities to achieve my goals. WCSU has supported me so much these past four years, that it was an honor for me to be a part of the ‘Navigating College for Success: First Generation Student Perspectives’ event to share some of what I’ve learned,” she added.

Part of the advice Hernandez shared with first-generation students is “Make the effort to attend networking events if possible. WCSU organizations host many events that current students, alumni, and community members attend. These events are essential for finding assistance with the college experience. You may meet someone who went through your exact situation and can provide so much help. I would advise first-generation students to look for networking events at WCSU. Also, familiarize yourself with the Financial Aid Office, Pre-Collegiate and Access Programs, and look at scholarships on the Institutional Advancement webpage. Overall, I would tell first-generation high school students that even though it may be difficult, being a first-generation student is rewarding, and it is possible to exceed the goals you have for yourself.”

Hernandez said she decided to attend WCSU “because of its affordable tuition, excellent education program, and because it was close enough to my home that I could commute. “As a senior in high school, I did a lot of research on colleges and found that WCSU’s education program stood out to me. I am glad I attended WCSU because I have received so much support from many people. I will graduate on May 12, and am very excited about the future, as I feel equipped to enter the workforce thanks to everything I learned at WCSU.

“My plan is to become a secondary English teacher who supports students the way I was supported in college — using my fluency in English and Spanish to aid students in their educational journey,” Hernandez said. “I also hope to earn a master’s degree within three years of graduating from WCSU. I have not decided what master’s program I want to complete yet, but I know it will be within the educational field. One program that interests me a lot is Bilingual Education. Nonetheless, my biggest goal is to equip my future students with the knowledge and skills that will push them to succeed in whatever direction they choose.”

Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.