Alberto Garcia Marrero

Alberto Garcia Marrero knew early on he wanted a legal career. Arriving in the United States from Cuba at 3 years old, he admired the system that allowed his family to prosper. He began university with that in mind and worked hard.

Alberto credits COB Academic Advisor Melissa Silveira with guiding him toward organizations that fit his interests. But Alberto took it from there. During junior year he held leadership roles in five honor societies. He was instrumental in establishing an FIU branch of Phi Delta Phi, the international legal honor society. He wanted to make sure other first-generation college students could see the law as an achievable aspiration.

Alberto, an Honors College student, won several scholarships, which helped fund his participation in leadership summits in New York City and Washington, D.C. — including a Supreme Court visit. He was also chosen for a 16-week internship with Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez.

But the experience that made the deepest impression on Alberto was helping his parents navigate through a mortgage dispute with a bank. Learning as he went along, Alberto helped shepherd the case through trial, where the judge ruled in the family’s favor.

The satisfaction in seeing the system work only increased his desire to become an attorney. Someday Alberto might like to be on the bench. But for now, he will be starting the MBA program at FIU, while he also applies to law schools.

By Karen-Janine Cohen
Writer
College of Business