Introducing Abby Bautista, Arrupe Alumna
By Asya Meadows
"Arrupe has made me realize anything I used to think was impossible, I can make it possible. I gotta keep moving forward and remind myself of that every day."
-Abby Bautista
Abby Bautista is a proud alumna of Arrupe College's first graduating class. We spoke with her about her experience at Arrupe College and how Arrupe impacted her life after completing the program. She also shares with us updates about her life and what she is up to now.
In her junior year of high school, Abby knew the idea of attending college was approaching. Her mindset towards college was uncertain since her family was barely able to fund her older brother's 4-year tuition. She knew her college pursuit would add a financial burden on her parents. She faced an ultimatum: either receive a full-ride or scholarship package that would relieve the financial strain on her parents or not go at all.
When Arrupe was presented to her, she presumed the expensive tuition was the only obstacle informing her decision. But Arrupe offers an affordable two-year rigorous associate’s degree program with a promise of leaving with little to no debt. Sounded like a dream opportunity for her, and she took it. From never wanting to go to Loyola at all to receiving two degrees: an associate’s in 2017 and a bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in criminal justice in 2019. This month, she earned a master's degree from Loyola in community counseling.
Attending Arrupe shifted her view on college. She mentioned the advantages of attending Arrupe: affordability, accessible resources, and the hands-on working relationship with staff and faculty. She also said she could lean on a strong community bond for support when things got challenging. She believes that having a sense of community allowed her to keep herself motivated. And since it was Arrupe’s first-class or "lab rat" class, it was easier to form bonds with folks who were having the same experience she was. Another advantage was the culture of caring for the whole student. Arrupe was good at connecting students to opportunities and resources like free laptops, catered breakfast/lunch, career fairs, summer jobs, free public transportation cards, scholarships, tuition aid.
She also mentioned that although Arrupe had many benefits, the one thing she would have liked to see was "a mentorship program with Loyola students." This would lift the importance of fostering a culture where two-year students can feel comfortable and imagine themselves at four-year institutions. Since her time at Arrupe, the 2-year program has grown and evolved over the past six years, offering more classes and professional opportunities in response to student interests and needs. Arrupe offered study abroad to Spain, fine arts classes, a nursing pathway degree track, a food pantry, and more.
After Arrupe, Abby said she gained more confidence and a sense of belonging in a college setting. Abby states that "I don't know what I would be doing if I didn't go to Arrupe, probably still trying to figure out how to get my bachelors." Abby graduated this month with her master’s, and she plans to work part-time at a private practice while she enrolls in a 5-year program to get her Psy.D. license. She currently works as a residential director at Loyola. She says she is proud to be the first female in her household to get a master's and be part of the 3% of Latinas who have graduated with a master’s.
Abby’s parting words: "Arrupe has made me realize anything I used to think was impossible, I can make it possible. I gotta keep moving forward and remind myself of that every day." She quotes Miley Cyrus: "life's a climb, but the view is great."
