Andrés Menéndez has always been interested in architecture and landscape architecture. Luckily for him, he didn’t have to go too far to get the education he wanted to pursue his dreams.
Menéndez grew up in Fort Mill, South Carolina. As the only university in the state with an architecture program, applying to Clemson was an obvious choice.
“I wanted to stay in-state, and Clemson just has a great reputation overall in academics and student life,” he said.
Menéndez was accepted into the landscape architecture program, which he enjoys because it allows him to design outdoor spaces and work with the environment. He studied abroad last semester at Clemson’s architecture center in Barcelona, Spain, which he said was an amazing experience.
“It was a great experience. The food was amazing, the people are very nice and friendly, and the public transportation made it so easy to get around,” he said.
During his time abroad, he was able to travel and see many different places in Spain, as well as Portugal, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Menéndez currently works in Cooper Library in the dean’s suite, where he helps with a variety of tasks, from getting the mail to keeping the printer stocked to helping plan the dean’s travel arrangements for work trips. He also greets visitors at the front desk of the suite. Even though the job isn’t directly related to his major, Menéndez says he is learning valuable skills such as time management and organization that he will take with him into the workplace. He said he has also enjoyed the opportunity to meet people and get to know Dean Chris Cox.
Outside of class and work, Menéndez serves as vice president of the Clemson chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), an organization open to students of any major or background. It offers professional development workshops, networking opportunities, and other events to help students prepare for their careers.
Menéndez is also a dance instructor for the Latin Dance Club, teaching traditional Latin dances such as salsa, bachata and merengue. He learned how to dance from his parents — his mother is Colombian, and his father is Puerto Rican.
“Whether it was at a wedding or a birthday party or just in our kitchen, they taught me and my younger brother how to dance,” said Menéndez.
Menéndez is set to graduate in May and is currently looking for a job, preferably in the Charlotte area.