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Around Kirkwood

All in the Family

By May 14, 2008January 21st, 2019No Comments

Venezuelan brothers pinpoint success

Three brothers living under one roof have all been selected as Kirkwood Community College outstanding students.

Hector and Nicolas Prada-Alvarez along with their older brother Marco Prada-Rodriguez attend classes at the Kirkwood Iowa City campus. Although their majors are different each of the brothers have taken classes together at Kirkwood with the hope of transferring to the University of Iowa.

Coming from Venezuela, the three brothers said good-bye to their parents and their home to make a new start in the United States. “I enjoy having brothers around, from the food Nicholas cooks and Hector’s sense of humor, we are together one family and best friends,” stated Marco.

“I look at myself as one of the outstanding students that goes beyond what is required and looking to go the extra mile,” said Marco, “but having my brothers also listed as outstanding students is a great feeling.”

The key term of “motivation “ is commonly used among the three brothers. Only having one another, the brothers agreed their motivation at Kirkwood and at home would be each other.

Marco, the oldest of the three brothers, is majoring in Business Administration. Looking up to his parents and brother Daniel, Marco said he hopes to soon start a family and work at a large company. Marco said he loves the environment at Kirkwood because of the smaller class sizes and the education that is provided. “I am who I am because of the love and examples of good life given to me by my parents,” stated Marco. Wishing he would of started college at an earlier age, Marco said he is glad that he is attending college now instead of not attending at all. “College is what will help me become what I want and be the best at what I do.”

Hector, Management Information Systems major, said he looks up to his brothers. “Each of them have different qualities in which I want to learn from,” he stated. “The values that I hold close to me are passed down from my parents.” Hector said looking at what he had and where he has come from has made him grow to what he is and what he hopes to become.

Nicolas, Marketing and Culinary Arts major, said he describes himself as someone who is engaged in his studies and becomes better through practice.
“I enjoy attending college with my brothers because of the bond that we share and always having a study partner near by,” stated Nicolas. The experiences Nicolas has had in the past are what he claimed has made him who he is now. “I contribute my success to my parents and brothers,” he added.

With different paths to be taken, the three men have known each other as brothers for a lifetime and classmates for a semester.