Nothing Short of Greatness: Student Spotlight on Joaquín Fernando Rodríguez

It was week 7 in Bulldog football season-and Joaquín Fernando Rodríguez had just played the worst game of his career. "I missed both of my field goals and that put a huge toll on my mental game," he says. That was when the doubts began to creep in. He suddenly felt unsure of his abilities and whether he even belonged on the team. But the team felt otherwise. "Even though I was at my lowest, I had teammates, coaches, friends, tell me to move past this game, that they trust me, and that we can work together to move past it."

So, what happened in week 8? "I had the best game of my career. I went 4/4 on field goals, which placed me in the record books, got placed on D3Football.com's Team of the week, and was able to finish out the season better than I started." That was when Rodríguez learned the life lesson that he would carry off the football field. "This situation taught me to keep fighting and to keep moving forward no matter how hard things would get."

Looking back over his time as a student athlete, he's not listing "becoming a better football player" as his most important lesson. Rather, he says that perseverance, brotherhood, and mental toughness top the list.

Those lessons must come in handy as Rodríguez pursues his business degree with a concentration in finance. Two and a half years ago, he found an opportunity to apply them by becoming a leader in a different realm-the Student Government Association. "Most people would tell you that they were 'called to serve,'" he says. "But in reality, that was not my case. I stumbled upon joining SGA two and a half years ago by invitation from Kenneth Bray (class of '23)."

Rodríguez says that through SGA, he discovered his own passion to represent, advocate, and bring about change. "As time went on, my responsibilities in SGA grew." He became comptroller in the 2022-23 school year and is now president. "My experience leading SGA for the past two years has been nothing short of great," he says. "Getting students with opposing views to come to a resolution is challenging, but that is what makes it all worth it-having fellow students come up to me and be able to confide in me with their concerns, and for them to understand that I will move oceans and mountains to make it possible. Serving my student body has had its challenges but I am proud of my executive board, my senate, and my fellow students."

In addition to everything else, Rodríguez is very involved in Bulldog Investment Company, an internship program designed to help students in all majors to read and interpret financial statements and develop critical thinking, presentation, and public speaking skills. It was founded in 2009 by alum Dave Sather. "Bulldog Investment Company has been the most important part of my development and education here at Texas Lutheran University," says Rodrigez. "Under the leadership of Dave Sather and other student analysts before me, I have been able to learn the art of analyzing companies, understanding company culture, and the proper way to perform value investing."

Rodríguez says he likes practical, hands-on learning as opposed to theoretical, which is a big part of why BIC is such a good fit-and he highly recommends it. "The value this program brings to any student is outstanding. BIC is also known for helping students develop faster in the classroom, whether it is presentation skills or just giving a boost to how fast a student can process and analyze

information. Being a Senior Member of BIC and also part of the leadership team, has allowed me to take everything I have learned from the program and adapt it to real life."

Those critical thinking and analytical skills will be important after Rodríguez graduates next December, because he's already got work to do. "My plans after graduation are not the usual path students take," he explains. "My parents are business owners and for as long as I can remember my path has been set in front of me, and it's a path that I am extremely passionate about, because it is an opportunity that not many students have." After he graduates, he'll be working in his family's business. As the owners of VeriClean Services, a facility maintenance company that's been in operation for over 25 years, Rodrguez's family oversees the work of more than four hundred employees in some 15 states. He's looking to apply the knowledge he's been gathering during his years at TLU, "to help my family, and create more generational wealth for my kids and my kids' kids." He's quick to give credit to his parents for how far he's come. "I owe everything I have to my parents. Without their constant sacrifices I would not be where I am today." He says that going into the family business is his way of giving back to them. "Other than that, I have other plans for future businesses I would like to pursue, but everything must come one step at a time."

Rodríguez also credits his college success to his siblings, his professors, his BIC colleagues, Dave Sather, "and last but not least, my coaches and teammates. Without them, none of this would have been possible-especially without them demanding and expecting nothing short of greatness."

And he also has a whole lot of gratitude for TLU itself. "I believe what sets TLU apart from other universities is their ability to bring a personal touch to the way students learn," he says. "All of my professors know me personally by first name and middle name, which is something you do not see in many other universities." And as he moves forward toward the goals he's set before himself, Rodríguez is unlikely to forget where he came from. "TLU has become my home away from home and the feeling of a honed community allowed me to be successful."

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