Lake County Gazette

On April 16, eighth-grade boys from Jackson and Jefferson middle schools, along with their families, visited Northern Illinois University (NIU) for an “Aspiring Latinos” event that featured a guided campus tour, workshops, and a student panel.

During the campus tour, students and families visited the Latino Resource Center to learn about student supports and resources. They also toured a simulated dorm at the Holmes Student Center and enjoyed a buffet lunch alongside current NIU students.

Jesus Vera Hernandez, an eighth-grader at Jefferson Middle School, especially enjoyed experiencing dorm life and dining alongside college students. He said it gave him a glimpse into “what day-to-day college life might be like. ”

After the tour, parents and caregivers attended a workshop on financial aid and college planning. Meanwhile, the eighth-graders participated in a Q-and-A session with a professor discussing class options and schedules.

The final session of “Aspiring Latinos” featured an insightful student panel of current students who shared their experiences on the path to college. As a sendoff, members of NIU’s Ballet Folklórico Aztlán gave a dance performance that charmed students and their families alike.

For Vera Hernandez, the visit to NIU made him reflect on his upcoming promotion to Willowbrook High School and what his experience there should be like in preparation for postsecondary education. “I need to try my hardest in high school,” he said. “Middle school is one thing, but high school leads to college, so I will have to do my best there too. ”

Thank you to the D45 staff for organizing and chaperoning the event. A special thanks to Northern Illinois University for the warm Huskie welcome and for inspiring our students and families toward postsecondary success.