Adam Ruales-Godoy

Hello, I am Adam Ruales-Godoy a UMass-Amherst student pursuing a bachelor's degree in Pre-Veterinary Science and a minor in Biology with a clear vision of being a veterinarian. I am from the small town of Belleville, New Jersey where my parents immigrated from Ecuador. As a first-generation and low-income student, entering a big school like UMass-Amherst was a major change, especially as an out-of-state student. I am forever grateful that I was a recipient of the Chancellor’s Award to aid my college career. Unfortunately, my freshman year was mainly done behind a desk at home but that did not stop me from grasping a bit of the college experience. I decided to join the Pre-Veterinary/Animal Science Club’s peer mentor program as a mentee. As a mentee for my first year, I set a foundation for my future years as a minuteman entering as an animal science major planning on becoming a pre-vet major a semester early. I also decided to join UMass’s First-Generation Low-Income Partnership (FLIP). As a first-gen low-income student going into a big university, I wanted to find a familiar community that shares similar backgrounds and understands each other's struggles. I am now the president of the FLIP club which has given me the opportunity to be featured in UMass Magazine and be a guest on UMass’s Student Success podcast.

Although my first year was at home, being home gave me the opportunity to work while studying. I worked as a receptionist at Nutley Animal Hospital where I continue to work. I am grateful for the opportunities Nutley Animal Hospital gave me as they taught me to be a veterinary technician. During the summers and breaks, I devoted my time to volunteering at animal shelters. I have volunteered for the Liberty Humane Society and Clifton Friends of the Shelter.

My first time living on campus was in my sophomore year. I wanted to experience all the opportunities UMass had to offer. At a club expo, I was introduced to the University Programming Council (UPC). UPC is not only one of the biggest organizations on campus, but it offers creative abilities to plan your own events with a supportive and fun group. It gave me the opportunity to go to our spring concert for free and meet the headliners and openers of the show! Currently, I am one of the social event coordinators for the agency where I plan all the general body meetings and our end-of-the-year banquet. Another organization that sparked my interest was the national honor fraternity Phi Sigma Pi. This organization had a group of intelligent students who created a welcoming environment; they strive for service, leadership, and fellowship. For Phi Sigma Pi, I am the brother-at-large (BAL) who is responsible for the internal connections within the fraternity. In addition to being active in clubs, I needed to work to save up money for tuition and personal expenses. I work at the Mullins Center, an entertainment center, as a member of the event staff at their concerts, athletic events, and ceremonies. I also worked as an intramural referee for the volleyball season all year. In addition, starting my sophomore year, I have been a Residential Assistant working in a freshman dorm. Now finishing up my junior year, I have been named to the Dean’s List every semester, I have accumulated a GPA of 3.985, and plan on graduating a semester early in the upcoming fall! I plan on applying to veterinary school this coming summer. I would like to offer a shout-out to the most significant role models in my life, my parents. I could not be the student or man I am today without their support and love; my true boulders. My biggest supporter in life is my older brother, Carlos Ruales, who has seen the ups and downs during my college career and continued to challenge me to do better. My academic advisor, Dr. Marston, supported me in my academic goals. Finally, I will be forever grateful to the friends I made during my time at UMass.