You might know Señor Edison from TikTok. Or Instagram. If you’re on Latino social media, chances are you’ve seen him somewhere, providing fun commentary on things like Puerto Rican history and why there are so many different words to say popcorn in Spanish. But what you might not know about him is that Edison Lopez recently graduated from college.
Remezcla talked to Señor Edison about the college experience, what advice he has for anyone entering college, and what’s next for him.
“I feel happy,” he told us. “It took me five years to finally graduate. I changed majors a bunch of times until I realized what I actually wanted to study, which was communications.” And the experience was compounded by the fact that, like in many Latine households, he was the first. “My parents never went to college, or they never graduated, so it was a big thing for the family,” he shared.
“We have the diploma up there, so we have it in the living room, like an altar,” he explained, laughing.
The college experience is, of course, different for everyone. And the things that make it easier will vary depending on who you are. Edison shared that, even though he was a commuter and drove to school every day, one thing he saw that all his Latino friends in South Florida were doing, in their dorms, and in general, was “trying to bring that piece of home” to where they were.
Enter things like arepa makers, which, yes, can be bought, and very specific Latine decor. But for Edison, more practical things. “As a commuter, I had a lot of time, gaps between classes. I stayed on campus a lot. At first, I would spend a lot of money on junk food. But then, on Amazon, I got a lunchbox, a big backpack to put all my lunchbox, my goodies, my laptop.”
“I was just budgeting, saving my money, and making do with my time,” he told us. “And something that really helped was Amazon Prime for young adults. People from 18 to 24 get 50% off. So, that was very handy. And there are also bundles for discounts.” In fact, you can get everything you need for college, from dorm décor and essentials to printers and planners on their Off to College hub or if you prefer to shop in Spanish, at Para la Universidad hub.
Very helpful, because if there’s one thing Señor Edison said we can all relate it was, “when you’re young, you’re broke.”
But college is not just about things, it’s about choosing what your life will look like going forward. And for Edison, who has the experience of changing majors and trying to figure out what he wanted, the main advice is this: “You can save a lot of money and save a lot of your time if you just go directly to what you’re passionate about. Don’t be fooling around, doing things that your family wants you to do, do what you want to do.”
Great advice, even if it often feels easier said than done.
What’s next for Señor Edison? A podcast, and continuing the same content we’ve come to expect from him. Just from a college graduate now.
