SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Juan in a Million

By: Emma B

If you know Juan, you know a good time. Always thought of as a happy face and good attitude, Juan Rodriguez-Medina serves as a bright light in his friends’ lives. When he is not with his friends, his favorite hobby is building Lego sets. So far, Juan’s favorite sets have been Lego flowers and a Lego Bugatti- quite the contrast. 

For many people, their hobbies do not necessarily correlate with their aspirations. For Juan, however, his are quite similar. Like his favorite hobby- building Legos- Juan has spent some time building houses and working construction with his dad. In recent summers, he has made good money doing this. He likes the serenity that building things brings him, saying, “[Legos are] calming and I like building stuff, like in real life too, like construction.”

Because of this experience, Juan has decided to pursue a career in HVAC. First, he will attend K.V.C.C. to receive his HVAC certification. Then, he plans on going to Western Michigan University to obtain a business degree. Juan hopes to one day own his very own HVAC business. His motivations for going into HVAC are simple, but effective: “They make a lot of money, that’s basically it.”

While he has this plan all figured out, some things have not gone so accordingly. Recently, Juan has found himself the new owner of a crazy puppy, Kevin Lebron James. Kevin came into Juan’s life by accident when he was visiting a friend’s house who was fostering Kevin. As a joke, they asked if anyone wanted a dog. “Actually, yes,” Juan replied. A week later, Kevin Lebron James was all Juan’s. 

Since then, Juan and Kevin have become close companions. Juan knew Kevin was a perfect fit because, “He was crazy, like me.” Now, they enjoy going on walks and playing outside together. 

When Juan isn’t outside with Kevin, he may still be outdoors participating in some of his favorite activities. While he may not be a professional, Juan loves to play pickleball with his friends at some of the local courts. Additionally, he is a member of the track and field team at Hackett where he throws shot put and discus. He has been a part of the team for the majority of high school, working hard to support and lead the team in throwing events. 

As graduation comes nearer, Juan expresses his bittersweet feelings towards his time at Hackett coming to an end. Excited to start a new chapter in his life, he cannot help but think about the friends he has made and the memories he now cherishes. Juan will not forget his fond times here at Hackett, and Hackett will assuredly never forget Juan’s presence in its halls.