Cameron Arroyo was born on April 7, 1990, in Boston, MA. He currently lives in West Roxbury with his mother, Jean. Because of his Irish and Puerto Rican descent, he has always shown an appreciation for both cultures, as well as a respect for those around the world. From a young age, Cameron has been interested in other parts of the world and how they differ from the United States.
Cameron entered Boston Latin School in the ninth grade and is graduated in 2008. He has excelled in his studies, especially in foreign languages and history. His love for languages is so engrained that he studied three over the course of his career at Boston Latin School: Spanish (including AP Spanish language during senior year), Italian, and, of course, Latin. In 2007, he also participated in the Arabic Summer Academy at Charlestown High School, where he not only learned the basics of the language, but also the different cultures, traditions, and histories of the various countries in the Middle East. At the end of the five-week course, Cameron tested at the level of high novice. Cameron also shows a strong interest in history, and has demonstrated this by taking Advanced Placement US History in his junior year, receiving a four on the AP exam, and electing to take Facing History and Ourselves his senior year.
At Boston Latin School and elsewhere, Cameron has participated in a wide range of extracurricular activities, ranging from Concert Band to outdoor track. For the summers of 2002 to 2006, he has attended the Talented and Gifted (TAG) Summer Program at UMass Boston as well as participated in the TAG Club during the school year through 2008. TAG is a program originally designed for Latino students in the Boston exam schools to give students a head start on the next school year. By participating in the program, he gained the skills necessary to succeed at Boston Latin Academy in 7th and 8th grade, and then at Boston Latin School during high school. In addition, he also received his black belt in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 15.
Cameron’s interest in public service stems from the time when he lived in East Boston. While there, he was active in community programs run by the two churches he attended, St. Lazarus and Sacred Heart. By volunteering at church fairs as well as at the Don Orione Nursing Home, he realized that he loved to help people and his passion did not end there. When he worked at the CVS in West Roxbury, he continued to serve people and help them even at such a small level. His volunteer work and job combined with the discovery of the Ward Fellowship through his friends make him feel positive about continuing in public service.
In the fall, Cameron will be beginning his college career as a Posse Scholar at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He plans to major in International Relations with a minor in Spanish. There, he will also be participating in a Residence Program dedicated to languages and cultures. Beyond college, he is considering graduate school, and then hopes to work as either a translator in the private sector or for the United Nations.
During his time as a Ward fellow, Cameron is working with Michelle Ekanem, Director of the Civil Rights Office at the Boston Housing Authority. Cameron hopes to learn the intricacies of housing discrimination in the City of Boston and how such cases are handled.