“This scholarship, and the various events catered toward Odyssey scholars, have truly aided in leveling the playing field for low-income students like me.”
How did you learn about UChicago? When did you first know that UChicago was the right college for you?
My brother was a Collegiate Scholar so I first learned of the University through him. As I went through high school, I learned more about UChicago through a variety of sources: friends, programs sponsored by the University, and my own research. When I was trying to figure out which colleges to apply to, the word “balance” best encapsulated what I was looking for. I really admired the various liberal arts colleges and what they had to offer but I didn’t want to lose out on the opportunities provided by a research University. UChicago offered the best marriage between the two, and the location was far enough that I had a sense of separation without having to forgo the city that I grew up in. I could ramble on and on about why UChicago made sense for me, but in the end my decision to choose UChicago wasn’t one instance rather it was a journey to find the best fit for me.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned since arriving on campus?
I don’t think there’s one thing that outweighs everything else that I have learned. Obviously I have learned a lot, or at least attempted to learn a lot, in the classroom setting, but can those experiences outweigh what I learned just by having the opportunity to live by myself and grow as a person? What about the things that I learn by being with a whole new group of people, or the things that I learned from the career advising office? Humans are comprised of their experiences throughout life with each having its own effect, so no one thing is more important than the rest; rather, the whole picture is what’s important.
What has your UChicago experience been like outside of the classroom?
To be honest, is a UChicago student really ever outside of the classroom? Jokes aside, I guess in the instance where I’m not doing anything academically oriented I spend my time either with a student organization, with friends, or just by myself trying to relax. I currently serve as the treasurer for the UChicago Pre-Dental Association, so I have spent a good amount of time trying to aid the board with the club’s endeavors, like our new “Smile On, Chicago” education initiative where we will teach students in the community about oral health.
If you could speak directly to the person whose gift supported your scholarship, what would you say?
I would not be at this university without your generous gift. Your gift has afforded me the opportunity to pursue higher education at a world-class institution without crippling my family financially. Thank you for offering your support to students like me; you have altered our lives for the better. This scholarship, and the various events catered toward Odyssey scholars, have truly aided in leveling the playing field for low-income students like me, and for that I will always be grateful.
