Isaac Franco

COL ’16
Age: 19
Hometown: El Monte, Calif.
Major: Government; Minor: Justice and Peace Studies

Do you feel you fit in at Georgetown?
I would say yes. I’ve found my own community. I wouldn’t want to say that Georgetown is a clique-y place, but I would say that there are different groups of people. I know I’ve found my place and can walk around and see people that I’m friends with.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
So far, I would say pledging [Lambda Upsilon Lambda, the Latino-based fraternity]. Just because it challenged me very much mentally. Physically as well, but mainly mentally, just because I ended up being the only one that was able to finish the process. The process allowed me to see that I could do more than I thought I could do. I could challenge myself to push myself that much farther. And now everyday, I just treasure the day because I was caught up doing this, doing study hours, and now I’m free to do my own thing though I still acknowledge that I have other responsibilities to do. It has challenged me to prioritize my interests. It made me realize that I’m not at Georgetown to party, I’m here because I want to get an education and I need to succeed.

How politically engaged are you on campus, and if you could lead a protest on one thing, what would it be?
I used to be part of the College Democrats, and I would still identify as a Democrat, but I’m not do-or-die, I’m more go with the flow. Honestly, I would protest about Leo’s because I don’t think they, the management levels, treat the workers with enough respect. Sometimes I’m there, and I speak Spanish, so I can overhear the conversations some of the workers are having. And they’re taking their break, having their conversations about lobbying issues and work issues when they should be able to enjoy their break. I feel like the fact that’s happening, when Leo’s supposedly got better, is pretty unacceptable. Leo’s really hasn’t changed that much, they just added things the students didn’t really ask for, and the workers just seem unhappy, so that’s what I’d lead a protest about.

What’s your greatest fear?
I would say failure. I mean, I’m afraid of heights too, but I can deal with that as long as there’s a wall. I’m afraid of failure, because, who wants to fail? It feels like giving up, and I hate giving up. And yes, it’s OK to fail sometimes because you learn from it, but honestly you can’t fail all the time, because you don’t know how to get back up. I’m afraid to fail because I’m afraid I won’t live up to my own expectations.

Does Georgetown contribute to that fear?
I’m pretty go with the flow. I’m doing my own thing. I’m an individual, and yes I’m here at Georgetown and there is a certain mold I have to fit into sometimes. But I’m Isaac, and I’m still going to be me, be happy, and strive to do whatever I want to do in order to be successful for my own right and for my family.

Why did you choose Georgetown?
I chose Georgetown because I interned here my senior year of high school, in the place where I work now [Office of the President] and I just really liked the climate. I’m from California, and I don’t want to go back. I want to stay on the East Coast. East Coast just won my heart. Not necessarily D.C. in particular, but the East Coast is just so much faster, so much closer together. I love just walking around the city and not having to worry about how I’m going to get home. So I love D.C., it was a no-brainer.