CTB Visits DFC
By Asya Meadows and Carlos Martinez
The Come To Believe (CTB) Network team had the amazing opportunity of visiting the Dougherty Family College (DFC) at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the very first time this month. “This two-year college within the University of St. Thomas opened in the fall of 2017 at the downtown Minneapolis campus.” (University of St. Thomas, 2023) Today, DFC serves a diverse student body and offers the CTB model wrap-around supports as a means to support not only access to higher education but success within higher education.
In this article, we touch on some of the highlights of this incredible experience. It is undeniable to say that DFC truly did feel at home, as Arrupe graduates. This is because of the welcoming nature of not only the space but of every single person we met during our visit. It is just a special place that brings a community of people working together for the common good. Visiting DFC was incredibly important for us at CTB because having that first-hand, in-person experience and understanding of the inner workings of the institution is invaluable. As a team, we wanted to meet and learn from the leadership team at DFC, along with meeting some of the students, shadowing a class, and seeing the campus and its various spaces. All to have a better sense of how the community works, and what each of these community members has experienced.
From the perspective of two Arrupe College graduates, it was interesting to see the many similarities between DFC and Arrupe College students on the core principles of the CTB model. These principles are crucial when replicating the model at different universities across the U.S.
At DFC we met with two students from the DFC program. Kayla Martin is a second-year student, born and raised in Minnesota. She heard about DFC through her local church, and what resonated with her were the program's values of holistic support and low cost. We also met with Alejandra Soria, a second-year first-generation student, who heard about the DFC program during a program she was a part of in high school that allowed her to learn about the different post-secondary options.
Carlos and I related to both of their experiences. Coming from a single-parent household and with my mother still paying off my catholic high school education, college felt like a stressor to me. With barriers to college, it felt like higher education was out of reach. Thankfully, like Kayla, I had the chance to hear about Arrupe and its holistic support and low cost. Kayla shared with us that “as soon as I heard about the benefits of like the laptop, the bus pass, the meal plan, the free texts books … that’s what got me into it. Then I heard about the tuition and the support, and once I found out about the values I was like ‘ok, sold, this is where I need to be.’”
Additionally, I connected with how these students felt seen by their faculty as they had to navigate through hardships, in a similar way that I had to. In particular, Alejandra mentioned in our conversation that being a first-generation student was a lot on her shoulders while being the breadwinner and caretaker for her family. All these pressures of her personal life added on. However, while on the DFC campus, she felt unwavering support from the DFC community. I also empathized with students' challenges feeling the same sense of belonging on the larger campus when compared to the tight-knit community within the two-year college.
For me, Carlos, what stood out the most was the way in which I was able to see myself in the two students we got to meet, Alejandra and Kayla. These two sophomores got to share with us their entire experience at DFC and how it has impacted them in a positive way. For them, higher education was not an option at one point due to its inaccessibility for those who unfortunately have extra responsibilities and/or hardships to endure. At CTB we understand that “access to postsecondary education across the country is vital, as 50 percent of students choose to study close to home, and disparities in opportunities can lead to inequality.” (Johnson, 2019) For both Alejandra and Kayla, staying close to home was not only a want but a need.
Moreover, something that impacted me in a positive way was seeing how committed all the faculty and staff members at DFC are to their students and seeing them succeed. It is a gratifying feeling filled with hope for the future of higher education. Higher education “has also been shown to improve an individual's quality of life.” (United Nations, 2023) I am ecstatic to see these young people flourish after their time at DFC is up just the way I have been able to.
Reflecting on our experience showed us the facts of the matter: The CTB model core principles have been tested and proven to be the key to consistent quality higher education
Sense of belonging and community.
Wrap around services: faculty, advisors, peer mentors, career centers, internships, orientation leaders, and academic tutors.
Low tuition cost.
Access to resources such as free books, free laptops, free public transportation, breakfast, and lunch.
A visible campus and welcoming environment.
As we enter the final stages with the 2022 Design Grant Program participants, the stories of these students, both at DFC and Arrupe, serve as a testament to the effectiveness of this program and its positive impact. This investment will yield an incredibly strong ROI for any university, but aside from that it will offer support and resources to students who at one time or another could not see themselves in higher education.
A conversation on the importance of achievement
By Carlos Martinez
A 2022 report by McKinsey & Company stated that women leaders are just as ambitious as men, yet women still face more challenges that will make it harder for them to advance. “They’re more likely to experience belittling microaggressions, such as having their judgment questioned or being mistaken for someone more junior,” (McKinsey & Company) However, at Come to Believe we understand that women are highly capable leaders. A great example of this is our Board Member, Carmen Romero, who shared with us her thoughts on empowerment:
Empowerment looks like trusting colleagues, respecting them and allowing them to fail, if needed. To support empowerment, I try to create a collaborative culture where people share authentic and different perspectives to arrive at solutions as a team.
Come to Believe is proud to continue not only supporting but also showcasing the achievements of women who are part of the CTB community. This month, CTB had a two-part conversation on the importance of women’s achievements with Arrupe College ‘19 graduate, Zughey Flores, and Arrupe College ‘18 graduate, Stephanie Ramos.
At Arrupe, the faculty and staff continue to implement holistic methods that successfully support students to achieve their goals. Both Zughey and Stephanie shared with us a bit about the ways Arrupe supported them. Zughey shared that “Arrupe has truly changed [her] life forever [...] the community that Arrupe created for all the students and for me [...] they were always offering support.” Moreover, Stephanie told us that “Arrupe has impacted me so much that my Master’s proposal is going to be about Arrupe [...] Arrupe did change my perception of myself as a student, and I say that because from K through 12, I went believing that I was not smart enough, capable enough to achieve [...] a degree.”
Both Zughey and Stephanie are already accomplished leaders. Zughey highlighted that some of her major achievements were to serve as an Orientation Leader for incoming Arrupe students, as well as working with Serving People with a Mission as the Chief Programs Officer. Stephanie has also had her fair share of achievements as she now pursues her Doctoral degree of Community Psychology at University of Illinois in Chicago. Stephanie is committed to help “women to feel empowered regardless if they’re in higher education because there is this stigma [that] if someone doesn’t have higher education they’re not qualified.”
During our conversations, both Zughey and Stephanie discussed the importance of representation to their achievements. During our conversation with Zughey, she shared with us that for her, representation is “seeing other Mexican women taking on leadership roles.” Having her grandmother and aunt as great achievers inspired her, as she now pursues a Master’s in Counseling at Northwestern University’s honors psychology program. Zughey is now someone who other women–and young women in particular–look to for inspiration to continue pushing forward and achieve their goals. Furthermore, Stephanie shared with us that she is “really proud of [herself] for all the achievements that [she] has accomplished within the past year [such as] graduating undergrad [...] as a first-gen latina.” CTB is proud of Zughey and Stephanie and their achievements as they continue advancing academically and professionally.
As we celebrate women–and women’s achievements–this month and all throughout the year, we reflect on what CTB’s Board Member, Mara Smith shared with us:
Regardless of gender, it is important to use our own privileges and seats, and voices, at the table to bring women with us. In practice this means using our words to advocate for women, even and especially when those women aren't in the room to advocate for themselves. It means sharing knowledge, perspectives, experiences, and connections to empower women. And it means being pro-woman in every aspect of our lives, whether that is speaking against misogyny or choosing to see women as allies and not enemies. No action is too big or too small to help ensure women are in the best position to lead and succeed.
A conversation on the importance of belonging
By Carlos Martinez
At a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts have become increasingly politically contentious (Ferguson, 2023). CTB remains committed to forging a safe space where belonging is one of the many principles for student success. Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago (LUC), the very first CTB model college in the country, serves as an example of a belonging-centric institution.
Additionally, a 2018 study done by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) states that graduation rates are lower for Black (40%) students compared to their White counterparts (64%). It is important to acknowledge that student success amongst BIPOC students is often affected due to a lack of a sense of belonging. As noted in Mary Murphy’s (2020) study on belonging, the implementation of customized materials within the school curriculum and structure can have a positive impact on student success by directly instilling a sense of belonging.
As part of this commitment to belonging, CTB seeks to celebrate the impact the leaders in our community have. As it is the case with Arrupe 2020 alumna, Egypt Watson, and Arrupe faculty, Dr. Lavar Pope. They are the founders of the one and only Black Student Union (BSU) at Arrupe College of LUC. Egypt is also a graduate of Lincoln Park High School and she obtained her B.S. in Political Science from LUC in 2022. Dr. Pope serves as a Clinical Associate Professor of Political Science at Arrupe College of LUC, in addition to being a mentor for Arrupe’s Black Men for Success student organization.
In a full-length podcast conversation, former BSU President Egypt shared with us that “belonging is [...] feeling accepted, and appreciated in whatever space you are in, specifically in your educational space.” BSU Faculty Advisor Dr. Pope added that belonging means “[feeling] safe, physically safe, emotionally safe, safe that you are not going to get attacked in that community.” The CTB model is meant to contribute to establishing “a sense of belonging [which] is centered on gaining acceptance, being part of something and feeling supported as well as giving support to others,” (West, 2022).
Egypt recognized that “there was a need in our predominantly white institution [Loyola University Chicago] for Black people to feel safe, feel heard, and to be seen,” prompting her to take action and create the BSU space which is able to “provide an extra layer of support and sense of belonging to students at the start of and during their studies,” (West, 2022). Now more than ever, forging affinity spaces for Black students, like the BSU at Arrupe, is of utmost importance. In certain parts of the country, politicians “seek to make it unlawful to teach and study intersectionality, the Black Lives Matter movement, Black feminism, Black queer studies, reparations, and Black freedom struggles,” (Ferguson, 2023).
As CTB Board Member Kwaku Frimpong reflects, “belonging means being intentional with finding your community. Your community is not solely evaluated as a group with shared beliefs and values, but it should also include those that challenge you to be the best version of yourself. You mutually care about each other’s personal development, well-being, and success.” This is exactly what the BSU at Arrupe has and will continue to do for the Arrupe and the LUC Black student population
CTB and our two CTB model institutions, DFC and Arrupe, welcome all of you to join us towards the building of more accepting and inclusive higher education institutions that prioritize belonging as part of the work that is being done within DEI. Check out the full length conversation we had with Egypt and Dr. Pope about the importance of belonging on your preferred podcast platform or on YouTube.
Meet Krystal Blas Rodriguez, DFC Graduate | Interview
Krystal shared a bit of her story with us about her experience at the Dougherty Family College (DFC)
Krystal recently shared that Dougherty Family College (DFC) at St. Thomas University in the Twin Cities was not her first choice for college. However, as a first generation college student Krystal was prioritizing financial accessibility and an option that would keep her close to her family. Luckily, DFC’s location and cost gave her the opportunity to pursue her college dreams.
Krystal now defines DFC as a transition. This was her first time experiencing college and DFC provided an opportunity to grow into a well-rounded person. Like many college freshmen, Krystal learned to organize herself and learned to be financially independent. She felt that the DFC helped her to develop not only her academic and professional skills, but her personal skills as well. Since enrolling at Dougherty, her network and her ability to connect and communicate with so many different people has grown exponentially.
Of all the memorable experiences Krystal had at DFC, Krystal speaks most affectionately about the many friends that are now a part of her life. In particular, she talks about Jessica because not only did they become friends through Dougherty, but they also have traveled the same academic journey together. After graduating DFC, both Krystal and Jessica went on to pursue bachelor degrees at St. Thomas. Krystal is so thankful that these new friends have become such an important part of her life.
Fast forward to today, Krystal is now a DFC graduate and has earned her bachelor’s degree from St. Thomas University in Political Science. The complexity of law and government and an internship she held at Citizens League, a public policy focused think tank, have her considering pursuing a job in this sector. With the support of her parents, Krystal is also considering an advanced degree in law. Currently, she works as a Sales Associates at an Optical retail store as she continues to search and apply for jobs with the help of DFC staff.
Regardless of how her professional career develops, Krystal will always be an advocate for people while helping them to become more politically involved.
Meet Mesum Haider, DFC Student | Interview
Mesum opens up about his time at Dougherty Family College (DFC) and the opportunities he took.
Mesum shared with Come To Believe that it was accessibility that convinced him to attend Dougherty Family College. From the beginning, Mesum felt like he belonged at DFC. The culture of support and the values he found at DFC has remained with him as he transitioned from DFC to the four year program at the University of St. Thomas.
This is why Mesum defines DFC with the word invested. To him it was important to make the best decision for him coming out of high school - and the decision was a difficult one. Thankfully, Mesum soon learned that DFC genuinely cared about the students and provided them with all the support they needed. He stated “when you see an organization, a college that’s invested in you, you kind of fall in love.” Furthermore, DFC was always inclusive of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and ensured that all students were able to fight against the imposter syndrome that can be part of the college experience.
Continuing his reflections, Mesum expressed that one of his most memorable moments at Dougherty was when he got an A+ on a paper. This was memorable not only because he got an A+, but also because he was able to see his hard work pay off. Mesum commented “it’s not about the grade for me at all, it was about the fact that I took a lot of time and effort into something, and it paid off.” He continued, “the difference between your reality and your expectations is the effort, the attitude, [and] the understanding of preparation.” He realized that DFC allowed him to put effort into something and then see the positive results. This taught him a powerful lesson - that he could influence his own outcomes. After this he learned that he is capable of reaching many goals by understanding how to prepare for any given opportunity.
Today, Mesum is in his last semester of undergraduate studies at the University of St. Thomas, completing his Operations and Supply Chain Management degree. He is getting ready to begin his time working for Target after graduation. At school, he is part of the interfaith council where he gets to advocate for the causes he cares about, and will continue to work to close the inequality gaps that minorities still face. Even with all he is doing at St. Thomas, he still makes time to enjoy his free time playing video games, and watching movies.
Mesum told us that he is happy to be part of the CTB Network because this organization is not trying to change the students but rather is trying to bring out the best in each of them. He would also like to tell his 17 years old self that even though he thinks he might not be able to do something, he actually can, and that his passion for lifelong learning will continue to drive him and everything he does.
Introducing Carmen Romero, CTB Trustee
By Carlos Martinez
“Social capital, that network is more than just a class you can take online somewhere to get an associates degree, it is those relationships, those clubs you can join, those events you can go to [...] that opens another door. Fr. [Katsouoros’] vision of co-location is a critical element of it” -Carmen Romero
Carmen Romero is the President and CEO at Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, a nonprofit organization that builds and preserves affordable housing in the greater District of Columbia area. Her work reflects her passionate desire to eradicate the cycles of inequality that result in restricted access to housing - an issue that cements long-term wealth gaps which predominantly impact minority communities.
Born in New York to immigrant parents, Carmen is a first generation American with degrees from both Georgetown University and the University of Pennsylvania. Carmen is very involved in her community and volunteers on multiple non-profit boards.
When asked, given her many personal and professional engagements, why committing to CTB as a Trustee was a priority, Carmen said, “What [she] sees in Come to Believe is a creative approach to saying that education is really the key to giving people opportunity, to making this a more equitable world.” She believes that the CTB model is taking an innovative and creative approach to solving big problems.
Carmen is not “new” to CTB in that she has followed Fr. Katsouros’ journey for many years - starting when he created Arrupe College in Chicago. In her experience, high quality education that provides systems designed to guide students to success are critical - and she saw that model being built at Arrupe by Fr. Katsouros. In establishing Come To Believe, Carmen again saw an evolution of this idea as the CTB began the work to bring this model to universities across the country. Supporting the expansion of the CTB model - one she believes will bring significant and sustained change to communities around the country - is why Carmen decided to become a trustee at CTB.
Carmen hopes that individuals and foundations will consider supporting CTB once they see for themselves the impact the model is having on students who enroll in a CTB model school. The results are strong: our students are finding success at remarkably higher rates than their peers at other associate degree programs. One reason for the success is the person-by-person based approach that is integral to a CTB model. This approach provides a platform to directly address systems that can perpetuate inequality - and this helps get students to the “finish line” at graduation. Carmen believes that potential donors will be interested in supporting Fr. Katsouros as he and the team work to create scale. This is what resonates with Carmen the most: she believes that replicating this model in communities around the country is critical. In her mind, this model is more needed than ever, particularly due to Covid-19.
In addition to the one-on-one engagement that is built into the CTB model, Carmen feels that the primacy of creating a CTB model college in a central location on the campus of future host universities is an aspect of the CTB that truly makes a difference. Inviting students to feel they are part of the larger host university - to allow them to see themselves as integral members of the community - is a big reason why these students come to believe in themselves as capable and welcome. This helps each student to forge a sense of community and belonging. Carmen shared that she is “excited [...] to leverage her real estate background to help the board [of trustees] think about’ the conversations surrounding the location of a CTB model college.”
In her role as CEO of the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, she knows that systemic change needs to address big problems and it takes a multifaceted approach to make a difference - this includes impacting policy and real estate access. In CTB she sees an organization that shares her vision for addressing big problems with big solutions
Last but not least, Carmen sees CTB expanding geographically across the country to “three, four, five different university co-locations [...] and with that will come more stakeholders, more people who get to experience it in their community and really inspire other groups” with the model’s success. Carmen looks forward to working with the rest of the Board of Trustees, and wishes the CTB family a happy new year.
Introducing Brenda Saucedo, DFC Student
By Asya Meadows
Brenda Saucedo is an alumna of Dougherty Family College (DFC) and a recently graduated from the University of St.Thomas with a degree in Family Studies and a double minor in women studies and social welfare.
In her senior year of high school at Washington Tech, Saucedo discovered DFC through a College Possible coach. When she looked into colleges, she remembered seeing her brother struggling and stressed about finances while attending college in his sophomore year. Brenda thought she would have to endure the same fate. But her coach pushed her to pursue a possible opportunity at DFC. After that conversation, Brenda set her sights on DFC and went through the process of applying. In the early days after her acceptance, she realized that she finally saw herself at college and "doing something."
Brenda was coming from a small, diverse high school where everyone grew up with each other. She looked for these qualities in a college that would be right for her. She found these qualities at Dougherty Family College and that helped her feel comfortable. When she was transferring from DFC to a four-year university, she said, "that was when I got my first culture shock,...seeing the huge difference of everything from what I was growing up with. Her class experience as a student of color made for a difficult adjustment. She sometimes said during class when it was time to share personal stories "that their stories were completely different from my stories." But being in a class with students that didn't look like her did not make her feel that she didn’t belong. The relationships that Saucedo built at DFC supported her in this transition, making it less daunting. She states that "especially the first semester, DFC was always sending me emails, checking in on us, making sure that we felt comfortable in the colleges we belong to. “
After graduation, she was immensely proud of herself for being the first in her family to graduate from college. Her parents have only an Elementary school education. When Saucedo graduated with two degrees from a private university, it was a long-lived dream fulfilled. During that time, it "was super so exciting for them - they were all over Facebook talking and posting about my accomplishments." Coming from "never seeing a future for myself academic-wise, to walking the stage at my college graduation.” Her parents were amazed and joyous. As Brenda said, "to see their joy made me super happy and made everything worth it."
Brenda’s plans for the future are to work and save money for two years and go to grad school. She said that she finally feels confident about easing into the workforce and is currently working as a teacher aid. Knowing she still had a connection with the DFC community has been important too. It makes her feel she can give back while building out the relationships she made at Dougherty. Brenda dreams of giving back to her community by getting her law degree to become a Family Law mediator. Beyond that, she dreams of being a state representative as a way to support and uplift her community.
Introducing Mara Smith, CTB’s Trustee
by Carlos Martinez
“The world is better when we have diverse circles, with diverse individuals who have been given access to resources that allowed them to go through some of the barriers that have kept them out of the rooms where decisions are being made”
- Mara Smith
Mara Smith is an attorney. A graduate from the University of Scranton, she received her JD from Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law. She is passionate about higher education and has been following Arrupe College --the very first CTB model college-- since its inception. She loves and believes in CTB’s mission which is what drew her to become a Trustee. As a University of Scranton graduate, she was instilled with the Jesuit values within her own personal values, and she applies these everywhere she goes. Mara tells us that “the space for faith, the space for community, the space to truly pursue education in a really autonomous way had an integral role in forming her as a person and as a professional, as a woman for others.”
She sees the barriers of private higher education to succeed and as a privileged person from an upper-middle-class household with two parents, she recognizes that not everyone has access to the same and wants to be part of reducing these barriers. It is important to give access to everyone, regardless of background, as it allows us to see things from a different perspective.
Moreover, Mara believes that “access is one of the most pressing issues facing higher education today…and it is pretty common knowledge that a diverse group helps create diverse, positive results far more than a homogeneous group might.” Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge that lack of access comes in different forms, such as socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, race, identity. And often marginalized populations do not have access.
Additionally, she understands that the “CTB Network takes a more holistic approach to looking at the application process, to looking at the acceptance process, and to looking at the student journey. It is really important that the CTB Network provides everything from academic resources, to personal resources, to mental health resources, to opportunities to meet individuals who have the opportunity to give you internships [...] and exposure to things that you might not be exposed to during your day-to-day.”
CTB looks at what value a student can bring into the CTB model. CTB puts diverse people in communities where they are often underrepresented. Mara observes “What CTB does is try to look at the barriers head-on and say how can we help people push through?” To Mara, it is incredibly rewarding to support an organization that commits to facing these challenges and reinventing higher education in a way that is accessible and equitable. She tells donors that what they are giving to is opportunity, to the reduction of barriers, and to an increase in diversity, and thought-leaders in the community from the communities that need to be represented.
We know that Mara is passionate about being a woman for others, finding ways to give back to communities and look at things from a different perspective. But let’s learn a bit more about her: she is an attorney and former Jesuit Corp Volunteer. She cares about higher education and health care. This led her to figure out the intersection of higher education and health care, such as food insecurity and fitness, and how to address these issues. Mara has learned a lot from others, and she does not want to take credit from those who have been able to influence who she is. Also, she loves Mac & Cheese!
Mara concludes “In the next five years, I CTB changing the face of higher education... changing what access looks like to higher education. Whatever number of schools we go out to and we are able to make these partnerships we are changing the conversation about access in higher education and what it means to have access... it’s really about looking at the individual who is applying ... what challenges have they overcome, what resources have they utilized in their own lives.” CTB is challenging the status quo. Mara believes higher education must be a right, not a privilege. Not only an elite few should get access, everyone should.
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."