Student Profile: Jason Rodriguez

Jason Rodriguez, sophomore health and physical educations major, is very committed to teaching physical education. His involvement with physical education programs on campus does not leave him much time for other activities.

However, he does like to dance. Physical education majors are required to take dancing classes and Rodriguez said that the Foundations of Dance class has been his favorite in so far. Foundations of Dance helped Rodriguez become interested in Swing Society.

“We started learning swing dance in Foundations of Dance class and I just want to learn more about it,” Rodriguez said. “I would like to teach swing dance to my students. It’s really fun.”

The physical education program requires a large commitment of time from its students. Rodriguez is involved in several of the organizations that HPER offers.

“He’s very inquisitive,” said Sarah Smith, senior health and physical education major. “He needs to know what is going on all the time and he always wants to go above and beyond.”

The Kansas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (KAHPERD) is a state wide organization. KAHPERD holds a convention every year and it has been held for the last three years at Emporia State. Rodriguez attended the convention last year and plans to go again in November.

“I was nominated to run for future professional chair elect for KAHPERD this year,” Rodriguez said.

Since Rodriguez was nominated, he will learn what the current professional chair elect does and attend leadership conferences. His senior year, he will be responsible for getting people to come to the KAHPERD conferences.

Rodriguez is also involved in the national version of the program. The American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) has two separate sub groups which Rodriguez is also a part of: the National Association of Sports for Physical Education and the American Association for Education.

"He has a really great work ethic,” said Kristin Gilmore, senior health promotions major. “In HPER club we have a lot of events we are working on and he's always willing to do anything anyone asks him to do."

Rodriguez also does as much community service as he can. He planned to help with the Light of Hope Run in Hammond Park last Saturday.

“I’m doing it to get my community service hours for teaching,” Rodriguez said. “I also want to get to go to the AAHPERD convention. My teachers have to recognize me so that I can go.”

AAHPERD is a national convention that will be held in Tampa, Fl. this year. Professors must nominate students who want to attend because the department pays for all the expenses.

Rodriguez has been to conferences in Topeka and Fort Worth, Texas.

During the conventions, students can attend workshops and sessions with physical education professors. At the sessions, students learn different ways to teach physical education classes. Once students become members, they can be members throughout their teaching career. Exhibit halls feature places to buy equipment and textbooks.

“You can learn a lot of different activities,” Rodriguez said. “You can also get lesson plans. It’s really great.”

Rodriguez grew up in Oskaloosa, which has a population of about 1500 people. His graduating class had 54 students, something that influenced his choice to come to ESU.

“I came to Emporia for the teaching program but I also like that it’s a small town,” Rodriguez said.

In the future, Rodriguez plans to teach somewhere near where he grew up. He doesn’t want to teach in his hometown, but the surrounding towns of Silver Lake or Rossville seem appealing.

“I’ll probably go back to northeast Kansas but not to my school,” Rodriguez said.

In his spare time, Rodriguez likes to go to the Recreation Center and work out. He also enjoys playing basketball.

When asked what his life motto is, Rodriguez said, “worrying is like a rocking chair – it gives you something to do but it gets you nowhere.”

He considers himself a hard working student and has the same goals that many college students have.

“I want to graduate from college,” Rodriguez said. “I want to teach and coach track and field and cross country. I might get my master’s in PE. It’s just a thought.”