Juan's Busy Life

Well, Juan is one of those children with “military mom or dad”. Large part of Juan Montolin’s life was full of traveling around the countries. Although he is Puerto Rican, Juan was born in Germany due to his mom’s military occupancy. Juan’s life in Germany was pretty brief. Most of his childhood was settled back and forth between America and Puerto Rico. Every time Juan altered place of his living he faced many issues a child might consider quiet a burden. Juan had to get used to new surrounding every other few years. Not only that, Juan also had to constantly making new friends, go to a lot of different schools, and most importantly, get used to the new cultures alternatively. “All the traveling Juan had to do constantly changed his life dramatically. He had to get used to the idea of not being with his mother, he had to leave his friends and he had to get used to switching between speaking Spanish and English every time he moved” says Juan’s mom.

Though it might sound very unfortunate that one had to keep move, Juan used that situation as an advantage and built his character. Juan is very fluent and speaking both Spanish and English, which will definitely help him with interactions with many people now that large population of America is Spanish-speaking. Not only that, but traveling and living in so many different places taught Juan to appreciate history. “I truly believe he has a real passion and interest for [history]” quoted Juan’s mom. Even Juan himself says, “I am great at history”. Juan especially has interest in World War II time period, from beginning to the end. He loves to read about World War II, and loves to play video games or board games that are related to World War II. Being so interested in such particular event, Juan is able to identify all the weapons that are used during World War II, including how they worked, who invented them, and so on. Juan’s mom believes that that is where Juan really became interested in Mechanical Engineering. “The stuff [weapons] just fascinates him” says Juan’s mom. The constant travel, which most people find very difficult, surly made Juan discover his interest in history, and through such interest, Juan was able to set up road to his future.

For many people, one passion is enough to make their life excited yet busy, but not for Juan. Juan also is a great musician. He loves listening to modern music but also has passion for classical side of the music. He has played violin since seventh grade and it already have been seven years since Juan started playing violin. While Juan was living in Texas, he played in a Mariachi group during middle school years. Mariachi is a musical group that was developed in Spanish-cultured countries. Obviously, Juan’s familiarity of Spanish culture aided him in joining such musical group. However, if it wasn’t for Juan’s talent and interest in playing violin, he could not have been engaged in such effort and skill taking musical group the year he first started violin. When Juan finally moved to Alexandria, Virginia (this is where he lived before attending Virginia Tech), he did not stop his passion for the music. Juan was invited to play in Chamber Orchestra during his high school years, which is one of the highest-leveled orchestra in high school. One of the most interesting events in Juan’s life was when he went to New York to listen to the NYC Philharmonic in 2007. Juan believes such musical experience is the memory that he’s never going to forget. After observing numerous years of Juan participating in many musical activities, Juan’s mom stated, “Juan has an ear and talent for the music, his is really passionate”. She really means it.

Though Juan sounds very busy with all those interests and hobbies, he is just like every other college student. Right after the school classes, Juan loves to play football, ultimate frisbee, listen to music and play video games (probably World War II related). On top of all those outside activities Juan enjoys, he is really a good family member. Juan is a great brother as quoted by his mother. Juan and his brother have never been separated before. Despite some common sibling animosity, they get along really well. Juan’s mom really gets pleasure seeing those two brothers playing games and laughing together. Even though Juan has many different sides from his brother in characteristic wise, Juan is very respectful, responsible, and loyal and he expects for his acquaintance to be the same, to have those lawful characteristics. Ironically, Juan said “I think my brother is 16, no, no, I mean 17, I am sure his either 16 or 17”. Being a thoughtful, caring brother as he is, Juan must have some issues when it comes to the numbers.

The most important aspects of Juan’s life, as Juan believes, are family and education. Family has been a supporter but also his friend for past 18 years. Without family, especially, without such a supportive, appreciative mom, Juan could not have come this far. “Juan being a VT student is something I am very proud of. It is his dream to attain a degree from VT and I fully support anything that makes him happy” stated Juan’s mom. Juan wanted to major in mechanical engineering but currently enrolled with University Studies. But Juan does not worry, because University Studies is one of the most common majors that freshmen take. Juan is willing to work really hard and transfer to mechanical engineering major in incoming semester. He is currently driving himself to achieve his dream, dream that sparkled from interest in guns from World War II, World War II that became one of his favorite topics in history, history that Juan became to appreciate throughout constant travel and travel that was necessary because of his mom’s job. All those events just did not happen randomly. It was a long, arduous process of life that Juan had to go through to find his dream and to know who he really is. Juan will do whatever he can do to be successful here at Virginia Tech.