By Matthew Wright
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – Justin Rodriguez is a very involved 20-year-old sophomore at Camden County College majoring in early childhood education with plans of transferring to Stockton University after this semester.
School Life and Career
Justin Rodriguez is majoring in early childhood education at Camden County College.
When Rodriguez was younger and entering elementary school, he only spoke Spanish. His childhood inspired him to want to major in early childhood education and become an English as a Second Language teacher.
Rodriguez explained, “Entering elementary school was tough for me because I didn’t speak English. I needed a lot of help from a lot of teachers to learn. Being once in those shoes of someone who was learning English as a second language, I know how tough it can be.”
Rodriguez’s past inspired him to want to help children who will someday be in the same boat as he once was.
Family Life and Responsibilities
Outside of school, Rodriguez is the oldest of four siblings and feels responsible for being a good older brother.
Rodriguez stated, “I try to act as a role model with my siblings, and I try to enjoy time with my parents and siblings as much as I can.”
Rodriguez enjoys playing soccer with his younger brother Tony and enjoys buying his youngest brother and sister toys, food and other things that make them happy.
Work Life
Rodriguez works at a sports complex in Cherry Hill called XL Sports World. There, he works as a coach to teach a younger audience soccer skills. Rodriguez works around 20 to 25 hours a week and balances his work life and school life by always trying to be ahead on his homework by getting it done early.
Rodriguez has found a passion for coaching and teaching a younger audience, as he stated, “I enjoy coaching because I like putting a smile on the kids’ faces. I like to see their progression; it reminds me of myself when I was their age trying to learn a new sport.”
Co-worker Kevin Martin said, “Justin is probably one of the hardest workers here, especially when he first started working.”
Staying Active
Rodriguez is a very active person. At CCC, he is involved in a volleyball club. Outside of school, he is involved in an adult level soccer league at his work at XL Sports. There he enjoys playing competitive soccer once a week with a team full of his work and school friends.
Rodriguez started playing soccer with his dad at around 5 years old. He grew up playing on multiple teams and played goalie in high school.
Rodriguez explained, “I enjoy soccer because I’ve been watching it since I was a little kid. I’ve looked up to many professional players growing up and try to mimic my game after them. I enjoy playing because it is a stress reliever that makes me feel free from my daily life.”
Transfer Plans
After this semester, Rodriguez plans to transfer to Stockton University in fall 2025 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. One reason Rodriguez picked Stockton is because of the location. He liked that it was a good distance from his hometown but not too far. Rodriguez also felt that Stockton’s atmosphere and community played a big role in his decision.
Rodriguez stated, “When I visited the open house at Stockton, the staff was extremely friendly and professional. They definitely persuaded me to pursue Stockton.”
Rodriguez also expressed gratitude to the helpful staff at CCC who are going to make his transfer process easy.
