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Meet the Scholar: Andres Ayala, Class of 2014

GoHealth, Data Analyst
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2014

Andres’s determination to succeed kept him focused on getting into college and persisting. The pressure of being the first in his family to go to college blinded him with doubts and questions, until he received an opportunity that changed his life. Chicago Scholars was that opportunity.

Andres says, “I am thankful for the guidance and helped I received from Chicago Scholars, which made my experience transitioning from high school to college as smooth as possible. I believe the program is a major reason for my current success and achievements, both personally and professionally.”

“I believe the Chicago Scholars is a major reason for my current success and achievements, both personally and professionally.” 

Andres’ Vision for the future  

“I want to advance the city’s youth in reminding them that their background does not determine their life outcomes. Living in Roseland, Little Village, Englewood or any other crime-ridden neighborhood doesn’t matter. I personally want to give back to the city by helping programs like Chicago Scholars to open doors of opportunity for our youth, the way they were opened for my peers and myself.”

Today, Andres works as a Data Analyst for GoHealth, a tech startup that is one of Fortune magazine’s 8 Chicago startups to watch. He also serves on the Chicago Scholars Alumni Leadership Council, which provides strategic support to the organization’s alumni programming, and ensures that alumni are socially connected and professionally prepared to be leaders in Chicago’s workforce.