The public health major is helping make everyone she interacts with feel comfortable, from the Mi Casa Living Learning Community floor to the Latinx-Hispanic Union.
The first weeks of college can be intimidating. Students are navigating a new place, making new friends and trying to figure out where they fit.
But there are people who make it their mission to ensure those around them feel not only welcomed, but comfortable. At Elon University, Anette Cruz ’29 is one of those people.
“I like to bring a little bit of comfort to wherever I go,” said Cruz, a public health major from Graham, North Carolina.
Cruz brings that comfort with her to every program and organization she is involved in—the Odyssey Program, Elon Academy and the Latinx-Hispanic Union.
When Cruz first arrived at Elon, she found that comfort in the Mi Casa Living Learning Community. The community expanded her circle and helped her create a sense of home on campus. Through events hosted by Mi Casa, Cruz learned about new opportunities and met people she otherwise might never have known.
“I was able to find home here. I never once felt like I was alone,” Cruz said.
Cruz also knew she wanted to be a part of the Latinx-Hispanic Union, which she found on social media where she saw a close-knit community that shared its culture with the campus.
During her first year, she served on their executive board, and when the opportunity arose to serve during her sophomore year as president, she immediately took it. Cruz is now working to grow LHU’s presence across campus through collaborations with other student organizations and Latinx organizations at other universities. At the same time, she wants the Elon community to know that everyone has a place at LHU.
“LHU isn’t just for Latinx and Hispanic students. It’s for everyone,” Cruz said. “Anyone can come to our events and have a good time.”
While Cruz has taken on several leadership roles at Elon, she views leadership through the lens of helping others.
“I’ve always loved helping other people, or you could say mentoring people,” Cruz said. “I like seeing other people succeed.”
One of Cruz’s most significant experiences with mentorship at Elon began before she officially enrolled as a first-year student. As a high school student, Cruz participated in Elon Academy, where she found mentors and developed a desire to help younger students navigate experiences she had already been through.
One of those mentors is Manny Campos, the Elon Academy assistant director of college success. He has seen Cruz grow during her time in the Elon Academy.
“She has gone from being a quiet and reserved student in high school to becoming a leader in various spaces, including being President of LHU,” said Campos. “Anette leads by example, and I am beyond grateful to be a part of her support system as she continues her journey to her own success.”
Whenever someone in the program has shown interest in the advanced pathways PA program, she has tried to help them go in the right direction by giving advice and helping share what she had learned in the past.
“Elon Academy really allowed for me to help these younger students,” she said.
For Cruz, Hispanic Heritage Month is more than a month of celebration. It’s about family, she said. It’s seeing everyone in the community get together and celebrate and sharing her culture with the rest of campus.
Elon honors Hispanic Heritage Month
As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, Elon University is sharing stories that celebrate the contributions, identities and experiences of students, faculty and staff. This month recognizes the rich histories and cultures of Hispanic and Latine communities, while also honoring the ways these traditions connect with and inspire people of all backgrounds. This month provides a special opportunity to honor Hispanic and Latinx heritage, but it also serves as an invitation for all members of the university to engage, learn and celebrate together.