Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Stephanie Meeks
Stephanie Meeks came to Olive-Harvey College in September of 2020 after graduating from Carver Military Academy High School. Her high school advisor told her about the Star Scholarship, which encouraged Stephanie to start her college journey at City Colleges of Chicago, where she would be able to earn her associate degree at no cost. Learning…
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Ryan Morgia
Ryan Morgia moved to the United States from the Philippines with his wife and child in 2019. Before the move, Ryan worked in the oil manufacturing industry as the factory manager of an engineering firm he developed. He was a licensed professional mechanical engineer in his home country and had earned his bachelor’s degree in…
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Sergio Alvarado
Sergio Alvarado was so committed to furthering his education at Daley College, he moved from Kansas to take courses there. The Chicago native has worked in the trades since 2011. He got his start in heating and air conditioning before transitioning to the industrial manufacturing industry, where he continues to work today. “I think the…
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Mariela Gallegos
Mariela Gallegos has completed the basic nursing assistant (BNA) certificate at Malcolm X College, she’s a certified nursing assistant (CNA), and she already has a number of college courses and credits under her belt. On top of all that, she also just graduated high school. Mariela was able to find early success through the Early…
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Michael Turner
Malcolm X College student Michael Turner already has an impressive resume. He’s a certified emergency medical technician (EMT) and a member of the Chicago Fire Department (CFD). Still, Michael isn’t done striving for greatness. Even as he’s currently deployed overseas, he’s preparing to continue his education by completing the Fire Science Operations and Fire Science…
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Dominika Panek
For recent Wright College graduate Dominika Panek, getting involved on campus was an essential part of her college journey. She was an editor for Wright’s Great Books Symposium Journal, a student-run literature publication, and she organized bone marrow drives on Wright’s campus for Be the Match, a national nonprofit organization. Throughout her time at Wright,…
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Rencie Horst
Rencie Horst has worked as a certified nursing assistant (CNA), a call center representative, a construction worker, and a photographer throughout her career—but her most important role is as a mom. Rencie has five kids, ranging in age from 13 to 22, and her oldest son was born with cerebral palsy. To take care of…
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Melissa Romualdo
During her first year at Malcolm X College, nursing student and Little Village resident Melissa Romualdo received the news that she was eligible for free internet service through City Colleges’ Chicago Connected program. The timing could not have been more perfect. Melissa’s parents decided to cancel their internet service to save on expenses since they…
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Selvin Tobar
Selvin Tobar, Wright College’s 2023 valedictorian, grew up on the North Side of Chicago and attended Von Steuben High School, where he discovered an interest in chemistry and engineering. It was there he found out that he could attend his first two years of college for free at City Colleges of Chicago through the Star…
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Christina Bernabe
Christina Bernabe, Daley College’s 2023 valedictorian, grew up in Chicago’s Clearing neighborhood and came to Richard J. Daley College in August of 2020. She was a returning college student who had previously put her academic career at another community college on hold due to financial obstacles. Christina had always dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur who…
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