Susana Rondon

Susana Rondon believes she was born to serve.

Before her birth, doctors encouraged her parents–and particularly her mother, a cancer survivor–to end the high-risk pregnancy. They told them Susana would have Down Syndrome and a slew of other health conditions. Inspired by her Christian faith, Susana’s mother decided to give her baby a chance at life.

Susana was born completely healthy, and her mother was also unharmed.

Susana said that if she’s a miracle, it’s time for her to pay it forward. This guides her every action– including at FIU.

Through the Honors College and Alternative Breaks, Susana volunteered as a site leader during a mission trip to Suriname, where she learned about the country’s coastal degradation, planted mangroves to ameliorate the situation and helped repair a community center for disabled children. She also studied abroad in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, where she taught English to educators and helped raise funds for a project providing clean drinking water to low-income communities.

Susana also became a leader in the student organization Students Taking Initiative Through Collaboration in Honors (STITCH), which organizes seminars and networking and volunteer opportunities for pre-med students.

In 2018, she began working full-time as the Honors College’s office associate and juggled her job with online or evening classes. She is a proud first-generation college student.

After graduating, she plans to pursue a master’s in environmental studies at FIU and bring to fruition several business ideas.

She says all her success is ultimately her mom’s success–and she dedicates all her hard work to her mom. 

By Gisela Valencia
Staff Writer
Division of External Relations, Strategic Communications and Marketing

Nominated by Stephanie Fernandez