Armando Quiroz
Armando Quiroz, a junior from Baldwin Park, California majoring in economics, helps create a dynamic and safe place to live for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and allies as the resident advisor (RA) for the Rainbow Floor.
Armando plans events such as activities with other special interest floors, fall and spring retreats, cultural events and an “overnight experience” for prospective students.
As RA, Armando says his biggest challenge is to integrate the Rainbow Floor, which is located in Century Apartments 2 on the second floor, Wing C, with the rest of the complex.
“A lot of students don’t know about it or where it is located,” says Armando. “I would like to help make it more visible.”
Armando also helped students by serving as an Orientation Advisor (OA) this past summer.
As OA, Armando took students on campus tours, to workshops and academic advising, and helped students get acquainted with campus life. He also helped write a skit that the OAs performed, which addressed numerous issues about college life.
Armando calls the experience “one of the greatest things I have ever done.” “It was so rewarding in so many ways,” says Armando, who transferred from Pasadena City College in 2006. “The Orientation staff was just great and made all the hard work worthwhile.”
“As a transfer student, Armando has quickly gotten involved and made an impact in the USC community,” says Vincent Vigil, director of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center.
After he graduates, Armando plans to pursue a master’s degree in finance and then start his own business.
What he appreciates most about USC is “the Trojan spirit by far.” “The fact that students have so much pride in USC is what makes the school so amazing,” he says.