Ruben Alvarado

Name: Ruben Alvarado
Age: 22
Major: Rehabilitative Services
Hometown: Mission

Why UTRGV?
I chose UTRGV mostly because I love living in the Rio Grande Valley. I have a job as a cheer coach at Valley Cheer Elite that works very well with my school schedule, so that helped me decide to stay and continue my education here at home.

What made you decide on your current major?
I knew I always wanted to help people, I just never really knew how. It wasn’t until I began performing at high schools with the UTRGV spirit program that I decided what I wanted to major in or pursue as a career. Having special needs students look up to me helped me decide that I wanted to work with students with special needs.

What are your plans after graduation?
After I graduate from UTRGV with my bachelor’s in rehabilitative services, I want to apply to a physical therapy program. One day I hope to have enough money saved to open up my own cheerleading gym and continue my passion as a cheer coach as well as being a physical therapist.

What are you involved in on and off campus?
I am currently the captain for the UTRGV cheer squad. Being part of the spirit program we get many opportunities to volunteer at events held at school. We also cheer at most games held on campus.

What is your biggest accomplishment to date?
Personally, my biggest accomplishment is being self-motivated enough to not drop out of school when it got rough, especially when trying to balance my school work with my job responsibilities. Hopefully I will graduate next spring and be one of the few in my large family to have graduated from college.

What advice do you have for future students?
I strongly rely on being surrounded with positive vibes. I would advise future students to never lose sight of their future goals and use that vision as their motivation to keep on keeping on.