“What keeps me pushing is knowing that I'm carving a path,” he says.
He shares that being one of few people of color in the physics department at Oregon State, and the field as a whole, is challenging. But just as he persevered through the subject in high school, finding appeal in the challenge, he has embraced this too as an obstacle he carves away at for those who come behind him.
Menendez will begin classes for his final year at Oregon State during Hispanic Heritage Month 2024, right after his last LSAMP bridges experience as a program mentor. When asked what Hispanic Heritage Month means to him, he said, “I feel like during that month and other identity-based celebration months, people are just so proud of where they come from, who they are, and their lineage, their people, their families. I love that. I'm a very proud Cuban all the time.”
“I am Hispanic and I can show that – I can play my music loud and have fun and be in community. And I really like that. I don't wish for that to stop. I wish we lived in a world where we could present ourselves how we see ourselves without fear of how others will react.”
With minors in mathematics and leadership, Menendez plans to use his physics degree to teach at the high school level in the future. He is currently working on his physics thesis with Yangqiuting (Doris) Li, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics to explore different ways to improve physics education and retention.
“I cannot wait to get my first classroom and right away hang my Cuban flag on the wall, like, this is who I am! I know for a lot of people if they see it, they know they can be it, so hopefully my Hispanic students will see me and know they can succeed in STEM too.”