Pablo Frontera-Mendez’s first visit to Ohio Northern University was during a “blizzard,” or what seemed like one to someone who grew up in Puerto Rico.
Despite the frigid conditions on the Tundra that day, Pablo was impressed by the warmth and friendliness of the campus community. He enrolled, choosing to look past the snow to the support he sensed he would receive.
As it turned out, that support proved essential. Pablo changed his major two times, but his professors guided him at every crossroads. “ONU has always made me feel like a person who matters,” he said.
Now a senior, Pablo will graduate in May with a degree in social studies education. He plans to seek a career in a museum or non-profit, combining his interests in storytelling, interactive learning, and history, where his bilingual skills in English and Spanish will be an asset.
In addition to teaching skills, Pablo has developed a high competency in historical research. For one course, he collaborated with ONU Archivist Matt Francis to research Puerto Rican students who attended the University in the early 20th century. For his senior capstone, he delved into the post-World War II migration of Puerto Ricans to Ohio’s steel industry.
The capstone project connected him with Cleveland’s Puerto Rican community, leading to him volunteering for the city’s Puerto Rican Parade and Festival in August. For Pablo, who lived in Puerto Rico until age 12, the music, food, and atmosphere of the festival was a reminder of home.
“It felt like a piece of Puerto Rico right in Ohio,” he said.
Outside of academics, Pablo is a member of the Theta Chi fraternity and the Latino Student Union. He also volunteers for events at the Hardin County Historical Museum.
He looks forward to completing his student teaching and receiving his degree this spring, although he’ll miss the mentorship of his ONU professors.
“At ONU, your professors think about you all the time and they connect you with the right resources for you to succeed,” he said.