Fan Casting Fernando Rivera in Five Degrees of Separation

Occupation: Political Science / Philosophy Year: Senior Fernando was born in Southern California and raised by working-class parents. His mother is a public-school counselor, while his father owns a small construction company. He became the first person in his immediate family to attend an elite university. Fernando is academically gifted but doesn't fit the stereotypical image of the hypercompetitive student. He is curious, thoughtful, and more interested in understanding people than impressing professors.