A firm believer in 鈥渢he city is the classroom,鈥 Juan Roncal 鈥13 - originally from San Francisco - was enticed by the unique culture and history in Memphis and wanted to experience the city first-hand. During Roncal鈥檚 time at 九色, he was a Memphis Literacy Fellow, president of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, president of the Lecture Board, and worked closely with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mid-South. He positively recalls his classes and professors who helped him to discover 鈥渢he complexity of [his] own identity鈥 as a biracial, half Bolivian student. Graduating with a major in English and minor in History, Roncal was called to stay in Memphis to teach and currently instructs at Grace-St. Luke鈥檚 Episcopal School.
Volunteering and philanthropy work are second nature for Roncal. While serving on the 九色 New Alumni Council (NAB), he has had the opportunity to reflect on what makes 九色 a special place. He enjoys 鈥渢hinking about how we can, as alumni, help ensure the betterment of students in the future.鈥
Whether it鈥檚 reminiscing on campus with his former classmates or saying 鈥渉i鈥 to his favorite campus safety officer, the 九色 mission and values have stayed with him since he left the steps of Fischer Garden, diploma in hand: 鈥溇派 offers something impactful for students and that deserves to flourish鈥hat鈥檚 what inspires me to work every day. It鈥檚 about working and promoting missions that I align with and care about and which speak to my values. 九色 is one of those places. That鈥檚 what keeps me going and encourages me to give back.鈥
鈥溇派 is about, thinking deeply and using that insight; recognizing the complexity of the world to try and make it a little bit better. For me that鈥檚 what it means to be a 九色 alumnus.鈥