2008 Woodie Awards
Local man overcomes condition
Michael Nazario
Issue date: 2/7/07 Section: Features
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Richard A. Rodriguez, 18, is your native Bakersfield Centennial High School graduate of the class of 2006, with a GPA of 4.33.
However, while in high school, he never played sports. It was not because he didn't want to. He did, but he couldn't because Rodriguez is a hemophiliac.
Hemophilia, according to everyday.health.com is an "inherited (genetic) disorder that prevents blood from clotting properly. Clotting means the blood thickens or congeals to form a scab, which keeps a cut from bleeding endlessly."
According to the Web site, "In the United States, about 17,000 people have hemophilia. It is almost exclusively a male disease. Females can get it, but it is very rare."
Being a hemophiliac can prevent an individual from doing many physical things, and sometimes can cause mental issues as well.
This is not the case for Rodriguez.
Prior to his senior year at Centennial High, he applied to many universities and colleges, such as Harvard, Stanford, all the UCs, USC, Tulane and West Point.
Many turned him down, including West Point, because of his physical ailment. Rodriguez will never be able to join any military service. When asked what would he have liked to study at West Point, he stated without hesitation, "Intelligence."
He chose UCLA, and he currently has a GPA of 3.93 there. He is the recipient of one scholarship program, granted through the National Hemophilia Foundation and he is being considered for another scholarship from the Society for High Schools Scholarships program.
Whatever Rodriguez is unable to accomplish physically, he intends to accomplish intellectually. He is majoring in psychobiology, which is the study of the human brain, and he wishes to become a doctor.
He wishes to become a medical researcher in an effort to aid the hemophiliac population. At present, there is no cure for hemophilia in sight, but Rodriguez hopes to change that.
One of the things he has battled throughout his life due to his illness is the fact that he considers himself shy and introverted. As a child he often had to wear protective gear in an effort to protect himself from falling or other contact that could have caused an open wound.
However, while in high school, he never played sports. It was not because he didn't want to. He did, but he couldn't because Rodriguez is a hemophiliac.
Hemophilia, according to everyday.health.com is an "inherited (genetic) disorder that prevents blood from clotting properly. Clotting means the blood thickens or congeals to form a scab, which keeps a cut from bleeding endlessly."
According to the Web site, "In the United States, about 17,000 people have hemophilia. It is almost exclusively a male disease. Females can get it, but it is very rare."
Being a hemophiliac can prevent an individual from doing many physical things, and sometimes can cause mental issues as well.
This is not the case for Rodriguez.
Prior to his senior year at Centennial High, he applied to many universities and colleges, such as Harvard, Stanford, all the UCs, USC, Tulane and West Point.
Many turned him down, including West Point, because of his physical ailment. Rodriguez will never be able to join any military service. When asked what would he have liked to study at West Point, he stated without hesitation, "Intelligence."
He chose UCLA, and he currently has a GPA of 3.93 there. He is the recipient of one scholarship program, granted through the National Hemophilia Foundation and he is being considered for another scholarship from the Society for High Schools Scholarships program.
Whatever Rodriguez is unable to accomplish physically, he intends to accomplish intellectually. He is majoring in psychobiology, which is the study of the human brain, and he wishes to become a doctor.
He wishes to become a medical researcher in an effort to aid the hemophiliac population. At present, there is no cure for hemophilia in sight, but Rodriguez hopes to change that.
One of the things he has battled throughout his life due to his illness is the fact that he considers himself shy and introverted. As a child he often had to wear protective gear in an effort to protect himself from falling or other contact that could have caused an open wound.
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