We’re In Chicago: John Garcia

What brought you back to Chicago Scholars? 

Having gone through the Chicago Scholars program myself in high school, I understand firsthand how beneficial the CS curriculum, staff, and organization can be for students. During my time as a scholar, I had resources that simply were not available to me either at my high school or in my personal life, such as high-quality counselors and mentors who provided me with invaluable advice and guidance that I carry to this day. I would not be in the position that I am, both personally and professionally, without the Chicago Scholars organization. I count myself as extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to have such an overwhelming amount of support behind me that I feel both honored and obligated to give back to the organization as well as the next generation of leaders coming out of Chicago. That is what brought me back to Chicago Scholars, and that is what will continue to drive me to remain involved. 

 As a Mentor with CS, what does it mean to you to be shaping the future of the organization? 

Shaping the future of the organization is a privilege and a responsibility that I do not take lightly because the entire mission is to make an impact in the lives of our scholars. As such, I can only feel grateful that I have the opportunity to share what I’ve learned over the years with both the students as well as my fellow mentors and colleagues. If we can impact at least one scholar, then every second of the mission was well spent. 

What is it like interacting with current Scholars as an Alumni and a Mentor? 

Sometimes it feels surreal because it was not that long ago that I was sitting in the very seats of our scholars. I can see myself in both the joys and struggles that the students face, and although challenges and circumstances differ person to person, we all share a vision of progressing toward a better future for both ourselves and the people around us, and I find that inspiring. It can feel weird sometimes because I still have a ton of growing to do, but giving back to the kids as mentors and alumni gives us perspective that the students do not yet have and allows us to further reflect on our own futures. 

How has your view of Chicago Scholars changed in your capacity as a Mentor? 

I would say that as a scholar going through the program, you’re a little narrow-sighted in the sense that you are always focused on the next step of your own journey and the actions needed to continue pushing forward on that path. But as a mentor, you start to see the bigger picture. The scope shifts to how you can cultivate a sense of community and empathy – to put yourself in the shoes of the scholars so that you can support them each in their own specific ways. So I would not say that my view of Chicago Scholars has changed, but rather the scope of the impact I want to make has shifted from focusing on the journey to building a community that shares in the journey together. 

What was your experience like as a Scholar? 

Although not always the easiest, I found my experience as a Chicago Scholar to be extremely beneficial in multiple ways. The first was college applications – the CS organization does a great job at helping scholars get a real head start in the application process, and I found that a lot of the hard work was done before I even started my senior year, which, in hindsight, was a major advantage. Second was counseling – this encompasses the college counseling aspect in which I really leaned on my CS counselor, who helped guide me through the entire process, which, as a first-generation college student, can feel extremely overwhelming at times. And lastly, the CS Emerge program was invaluable to me during my time in college – it provided me legitimate experience in the field I wanted to break into, and it gave me the opportunity to network with individuals that would lead to my first full-time employment role after college, which then cascaded into what I now currently do for work. Looking back on my journey from where I am now in my career, it can all be traced back to Chicago Scholars and the opportunities I was afforded. 

What advice do you have for current Scholars? 

The piece of advice I give every scholar is to make the most out of the Chicago Scholars program because what you get in return is directly correlated with how much effort you put in. The more you put into the program in terms of utilizing the writing labs, advice from mentors, college counselors, etc., the more benefits you will see come from it in terms of both your academic and future professional career. 

What do you wish people knew about Chicago Scholars and the city of Chicago? 

I wish people truly knew how much the staff and everyone involved truly care about the kids, but also the future of this city that we all hold dear to our hearts. They say you have to “be the change you want to see in the world.” Well, that change starts at the foundation, which, at its core, is the students who will lead the future of Chicago. 

Is there a piece of professional advice you would like to give your fellow Alumni?  

Take the risk (in whatever context that means to you). It can become too easy to settle into complacency, and sometimes, especially with first-generation students, the fear of failure can be overwhelmingly stronger than the excitement of success. There are so many more people in the world who look back on their life and say, “I wish I had taken the risk” than the other way around. Don’t live in fear of regret – life’s too short.