Meet José Rodriguez, the Assistant Vice President for Community & Belonging at College Unbound. He works closely with students, alumni, and the surrounding community to create a culture where people feel seen, supported, and valued. As a graduate of College Unbound himself and now part of its executive leadership team, his work is deeply rooted in both lived experience and purpose.
At a time when many people feel pressure to move faster or keep up with others, José’s message is centered on something different: trusting your own timing.
Remi TV asked how he brings that idea of “becoming” into his work with students, especially those on nontraditional paths.
As Assistant Vice President at College Unbound, how do you bring the idea of “becoming” and trusting your timing into your work with students?
José: A lot of our students are already navigating nontraditional paths, so I remind them their journey doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s to be valid. Growth can be nonlinear. Taking more time doesn’t mean you’re behind, it means you’re building something that’s actually aligned with who you are.
That mindset is especially important in a world shaped by constant comparison.
In a world driven by social media and comparison, how do you help students stay focused on their own journey?
José: It’s really easy to compare your real life to someone else’s highlight reel. What you’re seeing is curated, it’s incomplete. If you’re not careful, you start measuring your progress against something that isn’t fully real.
That same perspective shows up in José’s writing, where he reflects on the quiet reality of growth:
“I never judge my success by what others are doing, because I am only seeing their finish line and not their starting point.”
“There are roots growing beneath the surface that no one applauds.”
For José, growth is not always visible, and that is something he consistently reminds students.
How do you help students recognize progress when it doesn’t feel visible
José: Not all growth is meant to be seen right away. A lot of it happens in how you think, how you respond, and how you keep going. Sometimes you don’t notice it until you pause and realize you’re showing up differently than before.
His message is not just something he teaches, it is something he has lived. After overcoming challenges that could have defined his future, José built a new path for himself, eventually becoming both a graduate and now a leader at College Unbound.
That journey shapes the advice he gives to students who feel stuck or uncertain.
What is one lesson from your own journey that you pass on to students who feel like they are in a waiting phase?
José: Never let other people write your story for you.
It is a message that speaks to ownership, resilience, and the understanding that success is not about speed, but about growth.
José also challenges how people view the success of others. Instead of comparison, he encourages something more intentional.
“I celebrate others’ success while awaiting my time in the light.”
“Their light doesn’t compete with mine, it contributes to it.”
Through both his leadership and his words, José Rodriguez is helping redefine what success looks like for a new generation of learners. His work at College Unbound is not just about education, it is about belonging, perspective, and helping people understand that they are not behind.
They are becoming.
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