Gearing up for the grind: Skateboard-loving student ready to roll into WMU's kinetic imaging program
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—With the breeze blowing through his hair, Yoyo Rodriguez-Vargas coasts through Western Michigan University’s Main Campus on his skateboard, rolling past the iconic Miller Fountain and exploring the place he'll soon call home.
"It was really cool especially to see all of the fine arts spaces and the places where I'll be working and learning. It confirmed this is definitely the place I want to be," says Rodriguez-Vargas, who graduated in May from Innovation Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and just wrapped up New Student Orientation at Western.
An avid gamer, Rodriguez-Vargas plans to study kinetic imaging at Western.
"I'm making my own video game myself right now, and that's what I want to do in the future. So being able to do the game art track in kinetic imaging sounds like the perfect fit."
He first learned about the major from his product design instructor in the dual enrollment program at the WMU-Grand Rapids campus. A partnership with Grand Rapids Public Schools, the program gives students interested in integrated design and manufacturing the opportunity to take courses to earn college credit free of charge.
"The product design class was my favorite because it was all hands-on creating things," says Rodriguez-Vargas, who started the program his sophomore year and completed several courses ranging from engineering graphics to machining. "It's really great to get a jump-start on college."
In addition to starting his first year with several credits under his belt, Rodriguez-Vargas says the program has also helped ease some of the anxiety that comes with the newfound independence of college life.
"Participating in the dual enrollment program helped me be more confident in my ability to make friends and connections in college," he says. "It helped me be more confident overall in my abilities and what I do."
Rodriguez-Vargas plans to use that newfound confidence to find his fit on campus. With more than 400 registered student organizations, he's sure to find a few that align with his interests. In fact, he skated past one he already plans to check out: Capoeira at WMU. The group practices the Brazilian martial art capoeira, which blends elements of acrobatics, dance and music.
"It was so cool to see the advisor out practicing capoeira! I just started doing it this past year, and it's really fun. As soon as I saw it, I knew I'd find my people at WMU," he says.
Getting involved with Western's award-winning student radio station, 89.1 WIDR-FM, is a possibility, too. "Music is a huge part of my life. I really like to get out of my comfort zone and discover new music, so I'm thinking about reaching out to the radio station to see what I could do."
Whatever the future holds, he's ready to get rolling.
"I'm just really looking forward to having my own schedule and finding new things to do and explore," he says. "I remember in middle school, we visited Western and I thought it was pretty cool. Then in high school, I did the dual enrollment program. And it just fully opened my eyes to the possibilities, and it just all clicked. This is the school I wanted to go to, and now I'm just so excited to be here and get started."
Meet more of the First-Year Faces ready to join Bronco Nation.
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