It has been a pretty exciting month for Rachel Rodriguez.
This graduating eighth-grade student from Marrington Middle School of the Arts was one of nearly 60 students whose artwork was featured in the annual Berkeley County School District Board Art Show earlier this month.
The same week, she was recognized as a Junior Scholar at Marrington Middle; these are students who got a really high score on their PSAT.
To top it all off: she was selected to represent Joint Base Charleston Weapons Station as its Military Youth of the Year at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (or BGCA) Youth of the Year event in Columbia on May 2.
This honor recognizes Rodriguez’s growth and development as a leader, both inside and outside the classroom, and highlights her commitment to serving her community and being a role model.
“To me it was really important because you’re the kid that represents the entire center, from the little kids to the older kids,” she said. “You’re a role model for them. You’re supposed to show that and embody that, and to me that was really important because I get to represent all these people.”
Rodriguez comes from a military family; her father is retired from the Coast Guard. The family moved to the Charleston area from Virginia when she was in the sixth grade. She is a visual arts major at Marrington and is currently an honors art student.
The Boys & Girls Club is a non-profit organization that provides after-school and summer programs for youth, primarily aimed at ages 6 to 18. These clubs offer a safe, supportive environment where children and teens can engage in a variety of activities that promote learning, leadership development and healthy lifestyles.
Since moving to Charleston, Rodriguez has been an active member of the local BGCA program through Joint Base Charleston; the one she goes to is specifically for military youth. Rodriguez described it as like a hang out and a way for children to connect to their peers – they might take field trip sort of excursions, such as bowling or visiting the South Carolina Aquarium. They also participate in community service events, such as volunteering at local shelters and doing beach cleanups.
Military Youth of the Year, a distinct component of the Youth of the Year program, was introduced in 2013 to recognize outstanding teens served by BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on United States military installations worldwide. Rodriguez is representing the Naval Weapons Station Charleston Youth Programs Center.
“I was really surprised and shocked (to be named),” she said. “It was definitely surprising and exciting.”
Rodriguez was not only named her local center’s Youth of the Year, but went on to be named runner-up for the state title. The state titleholder also goes on to vie for the national title.
Rodriguez has been known to not shy away from lending a hand at school; she has previously helped with art events for Howe Hall AIMS students who visit, and tries to help her classmates – especially newcomers at the school who are looking to make friends.
“I think (my school) has pushed me to be a bit more social,” she said.
That support carries on when she is at the youth center. Rodriguez is a member of the Keystone Club, a club within the BGCA geared toward leadership development. Members participate in activities in three focus areas: academic success, career preparation and community service. Rodriguez has a heart for service and loves the ocean, so she particularly enjoys doing the beach cleanups. Her favorite school subject is science, and her career aspirations include becoming a marine biologist. Coastal themes often appear in her artwork; the piece she submitted for the BCSD Board Art Show is a vibrant drawing of four goldfish.
Rodriguez recently had to prepare and deliver three speeches in one week – two were Youth Center-related: as she got to “emcee” an award ceremony to recognize other award-winners in the center; she spoke at the BGCA Youth of the Year event in Columbia on May 2; and she also had to do a speech for Junior Scholars at school.
Rodriguez said she thinks what makes her a good leader is that she is a big believer in being respectful, and follows a personal mantra that everyone deserves respect – even if one does not agree with them.
“Even though it can be difficult sometimes, it is something we should all follow,” she said. “It’s a good code of conduct.”
Rodriguez is the daughter of Reggie and Raquel Rodriguez.