Chris Rodriguez’s journey is a powerful example of what sustained advising, mentorship and access to opportunity can make possible.
From graduating high school in the early days of covid, the pandemic wasn’t the only uncertainty Chris was navigating. A 2020 graduate of Cleveland’s John Marshall High School, Chris was once a student maneuvering the uncertainty of life after high school as the first in his family to pursue higher education, the college-going process was overwhelming, especially when it came to understanding applications, financial aid and the reality of paying for college. What made the difference was consistent, hands-on support from College Now.
During his senior year, Chris spent numerous hours in the College Now office located directly on the John Marshall campus. That space became a lifeline. With the help of College Now advisors, he not only mastered navigating the college application process, but he learned to ask the right questions and prepare for what came next. Just as importantly, College Now opened doors to scholarship opportunities that made going to college at Kent State University – and completing his education degree – attainable. Chris was awarded multiple scholarships, including those from Say Yes Cleveland; the Ratner, Miller & Shafran Foundation; Jimmy Malone; and a grant from the Howmet Aerospace Foundation.
“Seeing those big college bills as a 17-year-old is overwhelming,” Chris shared. “It was life-changing to have someone I could rely on to walk me through it.”
Beyond financial support, College Now paired Chris with a mentor, Greg Adkins, a network leader within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. That mentorship proved transformational, as Greg provided Chris with guidance not only through four years of college, but also into Chris’s professional life, helping him understand the education field and envision a future within the same district where he once attended school.
Chris went on to earn his Bachelor of Science in Education from Kent State in 2024. Today, he is proud to say that he and his former mentor are now colleagues.
Chris currently serves as a math teacher at John Marshall High School of Civic and Business Leadership, the very school where his journey began. Teaching in the same classrooms where he once was a student has given his story unique power. He now uses his own experience to inspire students who may feel unsure about their futures. Chris is a prime example of what’s possible, and he reminds his students that he once sat where they sit now and that with support, persistence and the right resources, they too can build meaningful careers and give back to their communities.
One of the challenges Chris sees most often in his students is fear of the unknown. Many struggle to imagine what life after high school could look like or whether they will have the support to get there. That is why he continues to point students toward the College Now office in their building, ensuring they know help is available and that their questions matter.
“I’m most proud to be the student who became the teacher,” Chris says. “Now I get to advocate for my students and help them take the next step into their postsecondary lives, whatever that path may be.”
While Chris’s journey has come full-circle for him, the math teacher’s impact is multiplied through each student who enters his classroom.