Share this
Before starting her higher education journey at Malcolm X College, Tanya de Chavez’s biggest hurdle was overcoming her own fear to return to school. Now, she’s inspiring others to follow her lead.
Before starting her higher education journey at Malcolm X College, Tanya de Chavez’s biggest hurdle was overcoming her own fear to return to school. Now, she’s inspiring others to follow her lead.
Tanya spent the last ten years working in the legal field and serving as a co-chair for the Young Professional Advisory Council for Mujeres Latinas en Accion, an organization that empowers Latinas. There, Tanya developed her love of helping others and molding young leaders. In addition to her community work, she decided to return to school to obtain her associate in arts at Malcolm X.
Tanya was worried that people would judge her for taking some time off in between high school and college but found everyone friendly and supportive. They encouraged her to chase her dreams of transferring. Now that she’s earned her associate degree, she plans to transfer to UIC to study public policy and business administration. She hasn’t ruled out the possibility of attending law school one day either.
Tanya’s commitment to her Malcolm X community and the greater Chicago community earned her a 2024 Luminary Award from City Colleges of Chicago.
"I don’t like to see people struggle. Especially as a first-generation Latina. I saw my parents struggle with work, putting food on the table, and finding a place to live. I feel like no one else has to do that if we give them the right resources and share the knowledge we’ve all learned throughout the years."
At 15, I never imagined I’d one day work in the automotive industry. Back in middle school, I told everyone on career day that I wanted to design cars, which sparked my interest in engineering—but the cost of college made that dream feel out of reach.
When Kenneth Balcarcel moved to the United States from Guatemala, he faced the daunting challenge of learning a new language while navigating life in a new country.
For more than 25 years, Jocelyn Sanders built a successful career as a salon owner and licensed cosmetologist. But deep down, there were still goals she wanted to complete, like going back to school.
After my time in the military, I decided to enroll at Wilbur Wright College. I saw it as an opportunity for a fresh start. I was determined to take full advantage of every resource available to me. I learned how to study and take notes, I met with my advisors, I networked with my peers, and I was enjoying all my classes. One day, one of my professors took notice of my hard work and dedication and asked me a simple question that changed the entire trajectory of my life: “How are you paying for college?”
