Roberto Elosua Gomez

What is your favorite campus tradition? My favorite campus tradition is singing the Notre Dame alma mater at the end of football games. I just love having the whole stadium sing along to our alma mater in unison because it shows that we are all a part of this great big family. It doesn’t hurt that the alma mater is pretty sweet in and of itself.

What is your favorite spot on campus? My favorite spot on campus is the portion of Notre Dame Ave that leads to Main Circle. It’s kind of a weird choice but every single time I am entering the University and see the beautiful sight of the dome, it just seems kind of surreal.

What is your best Notre Dame memory? My favorite ND memory has to be the campus-wide snowball fight on the first day of snow. Everyone was running around and enjoying the snow, and we went to get hot chocolate afterwards to warm-up.

What is your favorite Dining Hall Meal? My favorite Dining Hall meal has to be the burgers at Burger Night in South Dining Hall. You can’t miss it. Last year it was every other Wednesday for dinner!

What is your favorite thing about dorm life? Seeing a lot of people everyday. It’s just so nice to be constantly surrounded by many of the same people that soon become close friends. I think dorm life is a great way to meet a representative sample of the ND population and start making lifelong friendships.

What clubs/activities are you involved in? I am currently involved in Student International Business Council (SIBC), the Robinson Community Learning Center, and International Admissions.

What made you choose Notre Dame? I am the first person in my family who has ever attended Notre Dame, so I didn’t really know much about the school prior to applying here. Visiting campus just made me love everything that ND stands for. I absolutely loved the balance between academics and social life and really identified with the University’s culture.

What is your favorite part about being an international student at Notre Dame? People always hold an excitement for meeting an international student. This is because there is often an external perspective or insight that you can bring into a conversation because of your previous life experiences.

How did you adjust to life on campus? Honestly, it was easy. With the strong community that there is here, just reach out to other people and you will feel right at home.

How do you celebrate your culture/heritage at ND? Sometimes I get together with the other Mexicans to celebrate national events like the 16th of September or an important soccer game. It is very nice to know that there are others from my home country I can relate to. There are also several places in the South Bend area that serve great Mexican food!

What advice do you have for international students? My biggest advice would be for you guys to take in the whole Notre Dame experience. Make all types of friends at all types of events, and don’t necessarily limit yourself just to the international community. Notre Dame has a lot to offer to each and every student; it is just a matter of seizing those opportunities.