Some folks enter their professional careers knowing exactly who they want to be. Others, like new Mount Carmel English teacher Mr. Eric Rodriguez, discover their calling through the impact of a single person who once believed in them. 

Born and raised on the northwest side of Chicago in the Belmont-Cragin neighborhood, Mr. Rodriguez’s roots run deep in the city.. He attended Reinberg Elementary and Chicago Academy High School before pursuing college first at Monmouth College and then at Northeastern Illinois University, where he earned both his bachelor’s degree in English Literature and his master’s in Education.

His high school years were filled with music, baseball, and leadership, as he played in the jazz band, served as Student Council President, and stayed active in school. It was during that time that one English teacher changed the course of his life. What began as a simple moment of encouragement would eventually inspire him to become the kind of teacher who helps students find confidence in themselves.

Mr. Rodriguez’s journey to teaching was not straightforward. He didn’t know what he was going to do as he reached the end of high school.

“When I first started high school, I really wasn’t motivated as a student,” he says. “I had a pretty low self-esteem and didn’t have very good interactions with teachers in general.” 

That changed during his sophomore year when one English teacher took the time to notice his writing talent. After praising one of his essays, she told him how impressed she was, giving him something he had not felt in a long time: belief.

“It was one of the first times I had gotten positive feedback from a teacher,” he says. “It felt refreshing. That made all the difference.”

From that moment, his academic direction shifted. Though he once dreamed of becoming a lawyer or even a politician, he realized that teaching was where he could make the most meaningful difference.

 “I wanted to do for someone else what my English teacher did for me,” he says. “To believe in them and show them that they are capable of more than they think.”

Today, as an English teacher who currently teaches Excel-level sophomores and juniors at MC, Mr. Rodriguez brings that same sense of belief to his classroom. His teaching style is far from traditional. 

“I don’t like lecturing,” he says. “I want students to talk to each other and experience that productive struggle. You can’t really grow without that bit of tension.”

He describes his classes as interactive and filled with discussion. His goal is not just to teach grammar or literature but to build empathy. 

“If my students don’t remember every comma rule, that’s fine,” he says. “I’d rather they walk away being kind, empathetic individuals who can understand other perspectives.”

That focus on empathy and understanding is something Mr. Rodriguez believes is lacking in society today. For him, literature is not just about reading stories but about learning how to think critically and connect with others.

Mr. Rodriguez joined MC after several years teaching at King College Prep, where he also coached baseball and sponsored multiple clubs, including video games, anime, and photography. 

“Whatever club you can imagine, I probably had some hand in it,” he says, laughing. Transitioning to a private school has been a new experience for him.

“It’s been a world of difference,” he says. “I was born and raised in the public school system, so getting used to a private school’s structure, smaller classes, and all-boys environment has been an adjustment.”

Despite the changes, he has already embraced the strong community MC is known for. 

“I love that students are on time and ready to learn, and that there is a real structure here,” he says. “The parent involvement and all the events going on make this place feel like home for both students and families.”

Outside of teaching, Mr. Rodriguez has a long list of hobbies. 

“I have too many,” he says. “I play video games, bike, and hike when I can. Right now, I’m really into Pokémon Go because it gets me outside and exploring.”

He is also a big baseball fan and plans to get involved with MC’s baseball program soon.

 “I coached baseball for four years at my prior school, and I’m looking forward to helping here too,” he says. His love for the sport connects back to his high school days, when balancing music, sports, and leadership taught him the value of hard work and community, qualities he now hopes to pass on to his students.

Though he has only been at MC for a short time, Mr. Rodriguez already has favorite classroom moments. He described one creative writing exercise where students had to continue a story that began with, “It all started when the cows attacked.” As the stories grew more absurd and entertaining, laughter filled the room. 

“It was hilarious and wonderful to see students just write for fun,” he says. “Moments like that remind me why I love teaching.”

Looking ahead, Mr. Rodriguez’s goal for his first year is simple: to find his footing. 

“I feel like a first-year teacher again,” he says. “I’m still figuring out what this version of me looks like in this new environment. Hopefully, by the end of the year, I’ll have a solid idea of what kind of teacher I’m going to be here.”

From his roots in the Belmont-Cragin neighborhood to his classroom at MC, Mr. Rodriguez’s story is a special one. Inspired by a teacher who once believed in him, he now strives to do the same for his students, showing them that success begins when someone believes they can achieve it. 

His classroom is a space where students not only read and write–it is a space where curiosity and compassion come to life.