Rennard Ezra Villanueva is a social work major from Bakersfield. Majoring in social work is perfect for him since his dream job is to help children, teens, and young adults find their purpose in life. We are grateful to have a student like Rennard Ezra, who is passionate about inspiring others and being an advocate for them.

What is your dream job?

My dream job is to work with children, teens, and even young adults as a school social worker or youth counselor in finding their identity and purpose in life. Although a job like that may not offer a lot of money, if any, the joy and satisfaction of helping others are priceless in comparison to anything this world has to offer. Young people, including myself, often struggle to find their self-worth because of the business of life and end up struggling to solve many of their problems. I want to be an advocate for them, inspire them, and help reveal their true worthiness and great potential to them and the world around them. I want to be a valuable addition to their support system, something I never had when I was growing up.

How does that compare to what you wanted to be when you were young?

When I was a kid, I had no clue what I wanted to be. To be honest, I was too focused on playing Minecraft with my friends and simply trying to avoid responsibilities, but if I were to pinpoint what it was that I wanted in life, it would probably be to walk in the footsteps of my parents because of the hard work they had to put in to immigrate to the U.S. and build a life for me.

What is your favorite thing about being a part of the Pioneers family?

The openness of faculty members would probably be my favorite part because they are always willing to meet you at the level you are at. Your needs are always met to the best of their ability to provide for your needs whenever you make it known to them.

Where is your favorite place in the world?

My favorite place in the world is Puerto Princesa, Palawan in the Philippines. Going there as a kid with my family, I fell in love with the beauty of the island. Sadly, I was only there for a few days, but I got to experience some great features found on the island that was quite unforgettable. 

What show are you bingeing these days?

I just finished bingeing the two seasons of the Doom Patrol and the first season of Invincible. Doom Patrol is by far the weirdest superhero show that I have ever seen, but I do not regret watching it. Invincible, on the other hand, breaks many superhero show stereotypes and brings on a dynamically new perspective. 

What is something you’re passionate about?

My primary passion is being an advocate for the voiceless and helping others. Rock climbing is one of my biggest passions. Fun fact, it all started in the bouldering cave in the gym. The thrill and excitement of chalking up your hands and feeling the rush in my fingers when I climb are what keeps me coming back to the wall and going out for a bouldering session.

Recommend a place to go in the Bay Area on a weekend

I recommend going on a hike to the top of Mount Saint Helena and seeing the beautiful Napa Valley, but my go-to on a Sabbath afternoon is to go hiking on the trail to Table Rock. On the trail, you will always be able to see Napa Valley, and the best thing is that the trailhead is only a 30-minute drive from campus.