As her Organic Chemistry class comes to an end, Ceidy Ovalle closes her computer and heads upstairs. She has an hour before Biology starts, and she hopes to use the time to tutor her nine-year-old brother, who has autism and ADHD, and answer any questions he might have about his school work. After Biology is her Spanish Writing class, and after Spanish Writing, Ceidy is going to drive her mom to work. Then, after all of that, her day will really start to get busy with homework, attending office hours, Science Writing class, and more tutoring before Ceidy eventually returns to pick her mom up from work at 1:00 in the morning.
Like many of our Scholars whose colleges and universities have moved to virtual classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ceidy has returned to Chicago and is stepping up as a leader at home while learning to navigate a new online system of classes and coursework. She’s maintained excellent grades in all of her classes, and she’s determined to be there for her family during difficult times. “It’s been very challenging,” Ceidy says. “But I am definitely glad that I’m able to spend this time with my family.”
As a freshman Biology major and Spanish minor at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, Ceidy felt like she was just starting to adjust to life on campus when she and her fellow classmates had to pack up their belongings and head home for the remainder of the semester. At Denison, Ceidy was incredibly involved on campus and an expert at finding resources and support. She was a wellness ambassador at the school’s clinic, a teaching assistant, a research assistant, Secretary of the multicultural organization La Fuerza Latina, a Posse Scholar, a Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar, and a Chicago Scholar. She frequently went to the library and attended study groups. Now, she studies in the basement at home, attends virtual office hours, and has video calls with friends and lab partners.