Tina

When Tina graduated near the top of her high school class, the college acceptance letters rolled in, but none of her options made financial sense.

“I thought if you worked really hard in high school, you’d get a full ride,” she said. “When I looked at the numbers, I realized I’d still have to take on a lot of debt.”

Instead of taking out loans, Tina chose to attend Wilbur Wright College and study business as a Star Scholar, allowing her to attend college tuition-free while staying close to home. This also gave her financial freedom to focus on her education while building the foundation for her future business.

“Going to Wright allowed me to earn my degree without student loans, and that gave me the freedom to think about my future differently.”

Wright proved to be a perfect fit for Tina. She appreciated the small class sizes and supportive faculty who encouraged her to ask questions and seek help. She regularly attended office hours, worked with tutors when she needed extra support in challenging courses like calculus, and utilized the Wellness Center’s counseling services.

“The biggest lesson I learned was not being afraid to ask for help,” she said. “The professors were accessible, and that confidence stayed with me after I transferred.”

Tina also worked closely with her academic advisor to map out every course she needed to take at Wright to reach her transfer goals. After graduating from Wright, she transferred to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s (UIUC) Gies College of Business, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in finance. The habits Tina built at Wright, like asking questions, seeking support, and staying organized, helped her succeed at UIUC.

While completing her undergraduate coursework, Tina also built her own business. In addition to juggling lectures and assignments, she started a coaching practice that helped life coaches attract clients and grow their businesses and taught entrepreneurs the systems behind running successful online businesses.

After graduating from UIUC, Tina spent three years as an analyst at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange while continuing to grow as an entrepreneur and invest in real estate. Today, she owns her own AI consulting business, helping small businesses use artificial intelligence and automation to improve their operations.

She credits Wright with helping prepare her to transfer and succeed beyond the classroom.

“The math program was phenomenal, my advisor helped me create a clear transfer plan, and my professors taught me how to communicate complex business ideas in a way people could understand,” Tina said.

Looking back, Tina believes choosing community college was one of the smartest financial decisions she ever made.

“The best thing you can do when you’re young is avoid unnecessary debt,” she said. “Because I wasn’t burdened by student loans, I had the confidence to take risks, build my business and create opportunities for myself.”

Her advice for today’s City Colleges students is simple: use the resources around you, ask for help, and think long-term.