Yezi Gomez (National Louis University)
Yezi Gomez (she/her), a graduate of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and
now a rising junior studying criminal justice and psychology at NLU,
cites the support she received in CPS as a key factor in her decision
to attend college in the city.
Being a Chicago student means having
access to the resources and support systems that will help you thrive
as a learner. “I personally love being a student at Chicago,”
Gomez stated. “During my academic journey, I have encountered
friendships that have helped me when I was struggling during the
transition from high school to college. I graduated from a CPS High
School, and I am really thankful for all the resources and help that
I received from CPS. I have lived in other cities, but compared to
Chicago few other cities give so much support to people.”
The bonds Gomez formed during her
educational journey motivate her to make a positive impact after
graduation. As a first-generation student herself, she knows the
hurdles that many aspiring college learners must overcome to achieve
their educational goals. “Growing up in a Latino household and
being a first-generation student has been one of the most complicated
journeys that I have had to live,” she recounted, discussing the
challenges of the application process. “There were times when I
needed guidance to fill out a form or paperwork for college. For
support I would always go to my parents for help. However, even
though my parents wanted to help me, they couldn’t because they
didn’t know anything about how college works. So, I had to look for
resources and workshops that would help me.”
Although it was difficult at times,
Gomez’s experience has encouraged her to help others overcome the
same obstacles she did. “After I graduate, I would like to help
other women who are first-generation with guidance and resources for
their academic journey,” she said.
Gomez was open to the possibility of
studying in another place for college, considering a range of options
for pursuing higher education. However, she ultimately decided that
in terms of cultural diversity Chicago is hard to beat. “In my
senior year of high school I was doing research on which university I
would like to attend in the fall. During that process, I visited
schools in other cities, but there was no other city like Chicago.
The Windy City has a diverse cultural population. And that’s an
aspect that not many cities have.” In addition, going to school
where you grow up has its unique advantages. “Also, I decided to
stay in Chicago because my parents support me whenever I am
struggling,” Gomez added.
Ultimately, Gomez sees Chicago’s
educational options, diversity of culture, and robust support
networks as one of a kind when it comes to the college experience.
“Studying in Chicago, you are going to encounter many schools that
offer different majors, minors, masters and doctorate scholarship
programs that will help you pursue a higher education. Also, as
students our brain goes through rough situations, and sometimes we
might need to clear our minds and have fun. Chicago is a beautiful
city with also many FREE attractions if you are a student.
Definitely, you can see the support that the city gives to students.”