Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws (Honours) alum Anna Merlo interviews Dony Rodriguez, the TC Beirne School of Law student support and wellness officer, about his role at UQ, his best advice for students, and where to enjoy the best coffee on campus.
As a LEAD Scholarship recipient, I first met Dony at one of our end-of-semester pizza catch-ups. Intrigued to learn more about his role, I caught up with him for a coffee and a chat. Here’s what I learned.
Can you tell me more about your current role?
“This is a tricky one,” Dony explained, “because the technical answer is that my role is a student support and wellness officer. But I also look after the co-curricular experiences for students, and am the director of mooting. So I wear those two hats.”
“What I like most about my role is that I can work with students who come from diverse backgrounds and help them in finding their place at law school, as well as with high-achieving students who are ultra-competitive and want to excel at mooting.”
Through this hybrid role, Dony is able to act as an intermediary, supporting students from all kinds of backgrounds to get the most out of their UQ Law School experience: “It helps to be involved in both of those spaces because I can help scholarship students find their feet and encourage them to give mooting a go.
“My favourite part of my role is how rewarding it feels to help make a difference for students.”
What does an average workday look like for you?
Dony explained that his role is about 50% admin work and 50% working directly with students, either at events or meeting students face-to-face for a catch-up over coffee. “There isn’t really one average day. I have so many after-hours events, especially during peak times of the semester. It’s very flexible.”
Another facet of his role is assisting students in stressful situations. From dealing with personal conflicts to receiving disappointing exam results, for Dony, his role means being available to students for advice when they need. “When results come out, there can be a few emails that come through asking for help, so it’s rewarding when I can assist.”
Dony said if he can help a student avoid spiralling into more stress, that’s a good day in his eyes. He also has high praise for the Law School and how they support his role. “We all prioritise student wellbeing and making sure students can succeed as much as they can. It’s really nice to receive support from all the law school staff when it comes to assisting the students. Everyone goes above and beyond to help.”
What did you study at uni, and how did you end up in this job?
Dony said his path was a long and winding one. After high school, he had no clue what he wanted to study at university but knew he’d eventually pursue higher education. While on a gap year after high school, Dony began volunteering at a youth organisation. This took him to Cairns, in a pastoral and support role at a boarding school, where he found a passion for supporting students.
“I did my gap year because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do at uni… I was completely lost, basically. During that year, I decided that I loved crime shows like Law & Order – back then, there was no Suits – and that led me to thinking about getting into the law space.”
Dony was often told growing up that he would make a great lawyer because he was “difficult to argue with”… and always looking to negotiate. This made him think law could be a great pathway for him.
“It was never about how much money I could earn, but if I’m being honest with myself, I definitely thought ‘oh, it would be nice to say I’m studying law’.”
I laughed out loud at this comment because I’m sure most law students will relate. But aside from the prestige of studying law and the fascination with late-night crime shows, Dony shared that, “deep down I thought my legal training would allow me to help people.”
During Dony’s law/justice dual degree, he volunteered as a Reg Frog at schoolies, the Caxton Legal Centre, and LawRight (previously QPILCH). Eventually, this diverse experience led Dony to UQ, where he’s able to draw on his passion for helping students. “Everything that was listed in the position description was about coordinating and supporting the LEAD scholarship program and students, helping to run the co-curricular activities, and assisting with orientation for law students. It ticked all my boxes. I couldn’t believe it when it came up, and the timing of it was perfect. It was meant to be.”
What advice would you give to law students trying to navigate their career path?
Dony said this is a hard question to answer, but his best advice is to play to your strengths and ask yourself, ‘what am I passionate about?’
“I love working in universities because it allows me to do what I really love, and it doesn't feel like a job most days. You spend more time at work than anywhere else, so you want to be passionate about what you do and enjoy it. For me, it was important to feel like I was contributing to something bigger than myself, that would make a difference in people’s lives. Work out what you value the most and find something that aligns the best with that.”
Dony’s diversity of experience – from his studies to his youth work volunteering and legal centre experience – allowed him to find out what his strengths were and bring those into a rewarding career.
What's your best exam season tip?
The Law School calls the assessment period ‘measuring learning'. “Your lecturers are just trying to measure your learning and make sure you’re across the concepts. They aren’t trying to trick you. They just want to give you an opportunity to show what you’ve learned.”
Dony’s biggest tip is to take advantage of academic consultations.
“While it can be intimidating to speak to an academic one-on-one, these meetings can ensure you get all your questions answered and avoid second guessing yourself. Academics are always willing to help,” he says.
It also really helps to plan your time effectively during your exams. Make sure you’re allocating enough time for each question. Dony himself confessed this is something he learned the hard way. He once completely lost track of time in an exam and forgot to answer a question. “Lesson learned!”
What do you like to do in your spare time?
“I love doing Dad stuff: spending time with my two kids, doing park runs and staying active with them.”
He also likes binging thrillers and crime shows and listens to a lot of Science with Dr Karl: “This helps me answer all of my kids’ questions about the planet and stars.”
What is your coffee order, and where is the best coffee on campus?
“A 16oz iced latte.”
Dony believes coffee is an experience, so the best coffee on campus depends on what you're looking for that day. If you want a quiet coffee (and a free biscuit), Patina at Alumni Court is Dony’s top recommendation. Otherwise, if you’re looking for that vibrant, ‘you’re at UQ’ atmosphere, “I don’t think you can beat Merlo’s, with the giant tree, the sandstone and the Great Court.”
How do you support law students at UQ?
Dony is essentially the first port of call for student support at Law School.
“When I was a student, I struggled to know where to go when I needed help. Most students would struggle through their degree not knowing the services available and what opportunities are available to them. It’s great to be able to unpack that for students.”
And finally, how can students find you if they need support?
“I’m a fan of an office pop-in or you can usually find me around campus. I’m always happy to chat.”
Dony is located in office W362 in the Forgan Smith Building. You can email him via lawlife@uq.edu.au to organise a catch-up.
In my opinion, Dony is arguably one of the friendliest faces on campus. If you ever feel like you need some extra support or just a chat over coffee, Dony is always ready to listen.
