Student Body President discusses his transition from Honduras to the United States

The Association of Multicultural Students brought Student Body President, Fredy Madrid ’20, to discuss his story of the transition from Honduras to the United States on Oct. 4 as a part of Hispanic Heritage Month.  

Madrid was born in Honduras and lived there until he was seventeen. From ages eight to fifteen, Madrid says that he was a bad student, got into fights, feared everything, made people cry, didn’t like life and he thought about suicide many times. He felt an emptiness, anger and restlessness that he tried to fill with material things, which didn’t help. The source of Madrid’s frustrations and bad behavior came from a longing to feel accepted by his peers. People repeatedly told him he had great potential, but that he was ruining it by getting suspended for bad behavior.  

At 15, Madrid’s life was changed when he became Christian Orthodox. He started to like life. He asked for forgiveness from those he hurt, and he started caring in general. His life started to change for the better and he eventually had great friends and a girlfriend. But it was then that he moved from Honduras to Greenwood to finish out high school. 

Madrid moved to Greenwood to finish 11th and 12th grade since he had family nearby in South Carolina. He had his own apartment and car. During his first few years in South Carolina, he felt as if his heart was still in Honduras though his body was in Greenwood. Because of this, Madrid developed his own philosophy to help him cope. 

“You are cheating yourself if your heart is in one place and your life is in another. It’s about enjoying and focusing on the present, but not forgetting about your goals and future,” said Madrid. 

Madrid then started living by that philosophy and was able to excel in his new life, which led him to Wofford.  

“Wofford felt like home—the home I left when I was thriving,” said Madrid. 

However, Madrid journey to Wofford was not easy. Though he was able to receive scholarships from Wofford, his parents’ savings were only enough to pay for one year. After living in fear of having to leave Wofford because of finances, he decided that he had to show he was valuable, that he was worth it. He had to show that he could ‘conquer and prevail.’ Madrid decided that he was going to be a triple major in order to prove that he was the best of the best and deserved to stay at Wofford. 

In the spring semester of his freshman year, Madrid spoke to Financial Aid, the Bonner scholars program, the President and even considered a 40-hour a week job (at the Marriott). In March of 2017, Fredy was offered to apply for a spot open in the Bonner Scholars program. He thought this was God helping him out and he was extremely thankful. However, he did not get the spot. He felt his time at Wofford was slipping from his grip. April of 2017 was a tough month for Fredy because it was what he thought would be his last month at Wofford. He suffered anxiety and unrest about the uncertainty of his future, but he did his best to try to continue moving forward to get it done.  

In May of 2017, Fredy was preparing for exam week, his last week at Wofford, when he received a life-changing text. The text said: “Fredy, we have a Bonner spot for you, do you want to take it?”  

Fredy’s life was changed that day by that text because it allowed him to continue his education at Wofford. He says this is why he aspires to give so much back to Wofford.  

“The journey is improving Wofford. We all take different routes to do that. Wofford isn’t the campus, it’s the students. Wofford to me means improving the lives of the people,” said Madrid.  

Sophomore year, Fredy decided to narrow his studies and focus on what he wanted to do instead of trying to do everything. It was then that he decided to focus on student government because that’s where he saw the most potential. His sophomore year, he proposed two bills at Campus Union every month. In just eight months he was a delegate.  

“I wanted to try to give back with my ability and privilege to serve as a delegate in the student government,” Fredy Madrid.  

Fredy decided to run for president after encouragement from his peers. He prayed to God and eventually decided to run, becoming the first international, non-citizen and Hispanic President of the Wofford student body. 

“At the end of the day, I am in debt to my family, to my professors, to my friends, to the people that feed me, to the people that clean for me, to the people that inspire me, to the administration, to those who challenge me and to my God. Wofford for me, after 3 years, is not only your world, but also the place where the impossible becomes possible.”

Photo Caption: Fredy Madrid, Student Body President and Class of 2020