When Colorado Mesa University senior Hector De La Cruz-Rodriguez walked across the commencement stage this December, he wasn’t crossing it alone. With him, he carried a family legacy he was determined to redefine.
Originally from North Carolina, he moved to Parachute, Colorado and graduated from Grand Valley High School. He chose CMU to pursue a degree in construction management and to join the Men’s Wrestling Team. Determined to become the first in his family to earn a college degree, De La Cruz-Rodriquez always had in mind the mission to inspire his family, especially his two younger brothers.
But being the first comes with its own set of obstacles.
“I think one of the biggest challenges I faced was just knowing who I am as a person. I’m a first-generation student, so one big thing was growing up, my family wasn’t the richest.” He shared. “Being able to represent my family and being the first one out of my family to graduate is really meaningful to me and meaningful to my family.”
Growing up, De La Cruz-Rodriguez’s father worked long days, combating snow in the winter and intense heat in the summer to provide for the family. His father’s message to him was “You can do more.” Those words fueled him through difficult semesters, especially at his previous college, where he struggled academically and even considered dropping out. But when he transferred to CMU, something shifted. He bought a planner, committed to time management and rebuilt his academic foundation.
Another lesson he gained while at CMU was patience.
“Having patience with people and patience with yourself will lead people in a good direction and make everything easier for everyone,” he said. “I tell the freshman on the team, be patient, your time will come, or be patient when you’re wrestling. I feel like patience translates to any aspect in life.”
Much of his growth in life and at CMU developed because he wasn’t having to navigate college life on his own. His wrestling coach, Head Coach Mike Mendoza, became a reliable presence and someone he could call early in the morning or late at night, whether the conversation was about school, life, or anything in between. Having a strong mentor at CMU helped De La Cruz-Rodriguez become the man who walked the commencement stage.
Following graduation, De La Cruz-Rodriguez is looking forward to watching his two younger brothers follow in his footsteps. His middle brother is preparing to start at CMU in the fall next year.
“My dad was my idol growing up, and my dad tells me that my little brothers look up to me more than they do him, so just knowing that motivated me to be the first one out of my family to graduate. I’m building a foundation for my brothers. I’m setting the stones and hopefully they just continue to keep building,” he said.
As he looks toward the future, he’s not slowing down. He’s currently interning with Shaw Construction and plans to stay in the industry to learn its rhythms before launching his own business someday, alongside his father. His Master of Business Administration from CMU will help prepare him for that next step. And beyond the job site, he dreams of coaching —perhaps returning to CMU or returning to his old high school wrestling room, guiding students who walk in similar shoes.
No matter where he goes, he’s carrying the same purpose he started with: to build something lasting.