Raymond Alvarez-Adorno ’23
Hometown: Newark, NJ
Major: Anthropology
Extracurricular Involvement: Temple of Hip Hop E-Board member, Employee at Trinfo.Cafe
Email: [email protected]
Why did you join the Diversity and Access Team?
I joined the Diversity and Access Team (DAT) because I want to give visiting students an amazing experience. I was never able to visit Trinity myself before coming to campus for my first day of pre-orientation. Although I was nervous about attending a school I had never seen, MRT members made me feel accepted before I even got onto campus during an admitted student event in Boston. Hearing about Bantam Bound and Passport to Trinity, I was disappointed that I could not attend but also happy I could help other prospective students see how beautiful Trinity is.
What is the biggest lesson you learned from your first semester on campus?
During my first semester I learned it’s the little things that will change your life. Whether it’s signing up for a class or joining a club on a whim, those moments can be influential. For me, that was the Temple of Hip Hop. It changed my entire perspective on how Hip Hop can bring the community together.
How has a liberal arts education fostered your thinking? What class impacted you the most?
A liberal arts education has pushed me to take classes I would have never expected to take. Because of this, I was able to discover new passions. Before my first semester, I signed up for an anthropology course. Although I was not sure what to expect, I left with a new view of history, data, and my own personhood (in a good way)! Now I plan on majoring in anthropology because of how much it not only challenges but satisfies me.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
Since my first semester, I have been a member of the Trinity College Chapter of the Temple of Hip Hop. Every year we hold a festival for an entire weekend that revolves around the idea of Hip Hop being a community, something that can bring people together and uplift them in some way. I hope that by my senior year we can grow the festival to become larger than ever!
How has the city of Hartford impacted your college experience?
During my first year at Trinity College, I was a part of The Cities Gateway Program. We look at Hartford as a multilayered city with different identities. This sparked my interest in the city of Hartford. After many walks through neighborhoods and conversations with store owners, I got see a new side of Hartford. The rich culture and constant changes to the demographics of the city make it a new experience every time I explore it.
If you were a fruit what fruit would you be?
If I were to be any type of fruit I would be a guava. I really liked guavas whenever I could have them in Puerto Rico. To the Taino’s it was one of the symbols of life and death. Its flavor reminds me of all the memories I have had with my mother. Those memories are in a sense brought back to life, allowing me to maintain our connection from so far away.
What is your favorite event on campus?
I really enjoy when Trinity has “fests” or fairs for different groups. One example being the Wellness fest. I learned about nutrition, staying health during flu season, and even got a massage. These events really help students not only relax and stay healthy, but also learn.
Favorite Hartford memory?
One day, my friend needed to hand in paperwork in downtown Hartford. She rode her bike and I rode my skateboard. Our journey turned into an impromptu tour of Hartford. We went by the bodegas on Park St., the courthouse, and few public parks. It was great to see the part of the city that is often missed!
