By Sofía M. Villamil Durán
Research and Communications Assistant to the Provost
When Sagrado graduate Alondra Iris Cruzado Lugo (Class of 2024) hopped on our Zoom call before heading to work for a small business in her community, her enthusiasm was immediately clear. With just a few months until she begins her Master’s in World Languages and Cultures with a focus on Spanish linguistics and literature in North Carolina State University, Cruzado Lugo shared the experiences that shaped her path and her hopes for what’s ahead.
Cruzado Lugo has always been creative. Growing up in a family of filmmakers, musicians, and the like, she was drawn to the artistic process and imaginative thinking from an early age. A pivotal moment in her life occurred in the eighth grade when she was tasked with writing a short story. Her teacher’s encouragement after reading her work sparked an interest in writing, language, culture, and history. Since then, her dream has been to become a writer, coupled with the broader goal of creating a positive impact on the world.
With this goal in mind, Cruzado Lugo came to Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, which has played an instrumental role in shaping her academic and professional trajectory. Her journey began pursuing a multidisciplinary Bachelor’s degree that focused on Audiovisual Production & Film and Foreign Languages, as the Creative Writing program she wanted to join had not yet been established. Cruzado Lugo’s minors fluctuated throughout the years, from Education to International Relations to Psychology, until the Creative Writing program was finally introduced in her third year. This allowed her to pursue a Minor in Creative Writing, which, as she highlighted, “opened so many doors” and “confirmed everything” about her vocation as a writer. “I was truly in the right place,” she shared.
When asked about her most memorable or significant experience at Sagrado, Cruzado Lugo’s immediate response was, “There’s so many!” She enthusiastically spoke about her involvement in the University’s creative writing blog, her role as the assistant to the Academic Leader of the Creative Writing program, her win for best screenplay for El salsero y el narrador as part of a Puerto Rico Film Festival initiative, her contributions as writer and editor to the community-based anthology Cuentos a la Goyco, and her two research projects — one that involved aiding a professor in compiling René Marqués’ stories, and another that analyzed the role of live-actions in our childhood. Despite the pandemic limiting activity in her first years of college, Cruzado Lugo remained committed to the acquisition of knowledge and the exploration of creative pursuits. It is no surprise, then, that Cruzado Lugo also urged students to make the most of the many opportunities Sagrado has to offer.
Throughout her time at Sagrado, Cruzado Lugo also found encouragement from various professors, but one in particular stood out to her — Professor Ángel Correa Ortiz. She took his screenplay writing course during her first year, and she recalled how his constant feedback, motivation, and ability to push students to reach their full potential had a profound impact on her growth. She noted the importance of recognizing experiences like this, the “little things” that make Sagrado what it is, as vital for students’ development as professionals and changemakers.
Now, as Cruzado Lugo moves forward with her graduate studies, she views it as a pivotal step in fulfilling her aspirations. Giving a shoutout to Professor Luis Cintrón, who thought of her when he learned about this program and recommended she apply, Cruzado Lugo emphasized her gratitude for this opportunity. The Master’s program will allow her to study both linguistics and literature, giving her the freedom to shape her coursework as she goes, which she noted “gives her a lot of peace.” She fell in love with the literature aspect of the program, for instance, during an orientation and will be able to prioritize that if she so wishes. Moreover, by working with a Spanish as a Second Language teacher in her first year, Cruzado Lugo will be teaching on her own by the second year of the program, gaining direct experience. Besides aspiring to be a writer, Cruzado Lugo envisions a future where she teaches Spanish as a Second Language and works as an editor. Therefore, her Master’s degree is actively bringing her closer to achieving her goals. In addition to this major step, Cruzado Lugo is celebrating another milestone: completing her first book. Inspired by authors like Gene Edwards and C.S. Lewis, particularly his iconic work The Chronicles of Narnia, Cruzado Lugo wrote a work of young adult fantasy Christian fiction that combines her passion for theology and literature. Despite these ‘clear’ paths ahead of her, however, Cruzado Lugo highlighted that she’s open to being guided by God toward new opportunities and is excited for what the future holds. “Everything has its reason, and everything prepares us for something bigger,” she reflected.
While her drive and dedication are evident, Cruzado Lugo emphasized that her process is equally guided by faith. For her, graduating from Sagrado and starting this Master’s program is just as much a spiritual journey as it is an academic and professional one. “I was born to do this, and God has confirmed that,” she expressed with conviction. When crafting her graduate school application, Cruzado Lugo made a bold choice: she opted out of having her professors review her essays. Though she acknowledged it’s a valid strategy, she felt that if God wanted her to pursue this path, the university would embrace her application and accept her as she was. She trusted in the process, going step by step, and was accepted soon after. Cruzado Lugo encourages students to approach their own lives with the same assurance — to do things wholeheartedly and for the right reasons, holding at the forefront that God is good and at work in our lives for good. “Move by faith,” she said. “That’s my most important piece of advice for Sagrado’s students.”