On Aug. 25 and 26, more than 1,800 new Hoyas will move onto Georgetown's Main Campus. Arriving from every U.S. state and 50 other countries, students in the Class of 2010 will encounter a new environment with seemingly endless possibilities. This opportunity, while exciting, may also be somewhat intimidating.

One of the upperclassmen who will help these students as they transition into the community is Fitzgerard ("Fitz") Restituyo (SFS'07), a resident assistant in the Culture and Performance Living and Learning Community in Reynolds Hall. As a resident assistant for 39 students of all class years, he will provide support ranging from cultural programs and community building to counseling and emergency preparedness.

Restituyo's desire to become a resident assistant stems from his own journey at Georgetown -- a series of experiences and friendships that he said have helped him develop a fuller sense of his identity and find deeper meaning in his college experience.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Restituyo grew up in the Bronx, New York, and applied to Georgetown on the recommendation of his high school English teacher, who thought that the Hilltop would be a great place for him to pursue his interest in law and international relations.

As Restituyo prepared for his move to Georgetown, he knew that he would be entering a different world than the one in which he had grown up.

"From the time that they moved from the Dominican Republic, my parents lived in the same apartment, on the same block," he said, describing his neighborhood as predominantly Latino and African American.

During his first year in college, Restituyo proudly identified himself as a Latino student, but was eager to learn about the diverse backgrounds and cultures of his classmates. He participated in Young Leaders Educating About Diversity (Y-LEAD) at the beginning of the year. He also joined the first group of students in the Culture and Performance Living and Learning Community, where he and others shared many late-night conversations about cultural and diversity issues.

The living and learning community's focus on intercultural understanding is rooted in the university's mission and Jesuit heritage, which includes a commitment to "Community in Diversity." That commitment is among the nine values highlighted in an initiative titled "Engaging the Spirit of Georgetown." Launched this fall, the campaign celebrates the elements of Jesuit education and illustrates how those values are alive on campus.

Restituyo has engaged this Georgetown spirit ever since he arrived on the Hilltop. During his sophomore year, for example, he joined the French Cultural Association to augment his coursework learning the language. He and other members of the living and learning community participated in a dance during the annual Rangila, a extravaganza hosted by the G.U. South Asian Society. He also joined M.E.Ch.A de Georgetown and the Latin American Student Association, using both to explore his heritage.

In spring 2006, Restituyo took his cultural journey one step further, spending the semester in Santiago, Chile. The experience of traveling to a foreign country challenged his notion of cultural identity, as he realized other dimensions to his background.

"It was an eye-opening experience," he said. "I've spent a lot of my life thinking of myself as a Latino student in the United States, and here I was flying to a Latin American culture, and immediately being considered an Americano."

He looks forward to bringing his unique perspectives to the residents of Reynolds Hall, as they pursue their own journeys of self discovery. In keeping with the theme of intercultural understanding, Restituyo plans to introduce to the community a new series of "study-abroad previews," in which students with academic experiences overseas talk to other students about lessons learned.

"There is no substitute for hearing from classmates who have gone abroad to talk about their personal experiences in various countries," he said.

Upon graduation, Restituyo plans to continue his cultural journey. He is applying for a Fulbright scholarship to teach English in Indonesia. Whether or not this opportunity comes to fruition, he said he intends to continue to make cultural outreach a part of his life and the lives of others.