SYNERGY - Juneteenth 2022

Lorenzo Lugo

Story By: Erin Butts

Lorenzo Lugo used to think he could achieve happiness, fulfillment, and success by himself. He thought if he earned a lot of money, he would ultimately have the kind of life he wanted. Going to Morehouse College changed his perspective entirely.

According to Morehouse’s official LinkedIn page, Morehouse College is an all-male, historically Black institution located in Atlanta, Georgia. After high-school, Lugo spent one year at home before leaving for Morehouse. During this gap year, he researched information about the school.

Lugo experienced his gap year in the midst of the pandemic. At times he felt isolated, but Lugo found hope in the simple illustration of a sunrise. Every morning during his gap year, he would sit and drink coffee with his mother and father and watch the sunrise. He was reminded that just as the sun always rises after the long hours of a night, there will always be a new beginning; tough times will not last forever. Lugo spent his gap year intentionally, asking himself what is important to him and what he wants to do with his life. He also volunteered at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens and Gainesville Black Professionals.

When Lugo browsed the Morehouse College website, he was drawn to their description of a Morehouse man. The official Morehouse College website describes a Morehouse man as, “ …an academic, intellectual, and professional success. Inspired by strong, intelligent, critical and supportive brothers and teachers, a Morehouse man endeavors to do the same.”

“Essentially the Morehouse man is this ideology of a servant leader, someone who is always raising the bar for those that come after them and doing good for the 90% of people who are in the same position, and so much of it really resonated with me. I wanted to be somewhere where I was in an iron sharpens iron mentality,“ he explained.

Lugo described this ideology as being “almost like coffee” to him, because it energizes and motivates him everyday. Attending Morehouse College has resulted in personal growth for Lugo, and has shown him how to live a more meaningful life. It has also shown him that true happiness and fulfillment only occurs when shared with others.

“I can’t do anything of true value, nor can I consume the fruit of my labor if it’s not for others or being shared with others,” he said. Lugo is going into his sophomore year, and is a Business Administration Major with a concentration in finance. His desire is to pursue a career in consulting, which will give him the opportunity to continuously learn about industries, travel, and solve business related problems.

“My long-term goal would be to utilize my consulting experience and give back to my community and make significant contributions in the Black Diaspora Globally,” he shared.

Lugo will be a discovery intern for Deloitte this summer. Lugo views this internship as a good way to meet other consultants and learn more about the industry.

Becoming a Morehouse man for Lugo means continuous growth, a focus on relationships, and service to others. Morehouse men are called to be leaders and changemakers, which is the persona that Lugo wants to take with him into his career and everyday life.