by admin | Mar 31, 2021 | Alumni Spotlight
Marco graduated from CRSM in 2012. Immediately after graduation he went to art school, studying animation graphics. He now works for a production studio in Chicago as a motion graphics artist. He has a unique and positive attitude about art and creativity – one that’s been a driving influence in his life for as long as he can remember.
I’m interested in your college decision. Was it a difficult one?
Somewhat. Financially it was tough. I applied to various schools that offered animation and motion graphics programs; DePaul, Columbia, and the University of Illinois were on my list. My counselors at CRSM helped me make the right decision – the Illinois Institute had a good reputation and offered me the most attractive financial plan, so that’s where I landed.
You were lucky to finish your Bachelor’s before the school closed in 2018.
Yes. It turned out well for me. I benefitted from the excellent curricula they offered in animation. They also recommended me for a position at a very successful production house. When I started at The Institute, I wanted to be in their games program. But they had strict GPA guidelines for freshmen entry into the program, which I couldn’t quite meet. It was suggested I start in animation and then transfer into the Games Program. I never transferred – I liked animation so much.
You mentioned your family moved quite a bit, taking care of sick relatives. How did you end up at CRSM?
It’s kind of a funny story. I didn’t know about CRSM. When I was in middle school, I managed to get along with the class bully. He kept talking about “a school that would pay you to go to high school.” Now, I knew this couldn’t be true [laughing]. And obviously, he had the whole story wrong. But it piqued my interest, so my mom and I checked it out. After talking with Ms. Cuesta, I was interested – and my mom was convinced.
So it worked out well.
Well, I really disliked it at first. I was going through a lot at the time. My dad had passed away before I started at CRSM. Mom was working 4 jobs. The expectations and requirements at CRSM were tough for me. I was constantly being told what to do. You have to go to work. You have to wear a tie. Wear dress clothes. Tuck in your shirt. Teachers were always asking more of you than at other schools. I was confused and didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was very rebellious – a troubled kid. And now that we’re talking about it, I wonder how any of the people at CRSM had any patience with me.
So what turned it around for you?
I ended up getting fired from my work study job. So I was placed in CRSM’s IT Department. I was working with another student who had been let go. He just didn’t see anything wrong with what we had done. I would watch and listen to him, and soon began to realize…that’s how I look. And I did not like it.
Meanwhile, the man running the IT Department was constantly asking me what I wanted to do. He kept putting me in positions to help other teachers with their tech problems. Then those teachers would take an interest in me. They really cared. With all that, I began to realize that I was running out of chances – that I couldn’t waste this opportunity. I started thinking, maybe there was something I could pursue, I started wanting to go to college. My grades improved steadily from then on and work study went really well.
And then you became interested in art?
I was always interested in art because of my dad. He was not a trained artist, but he painted many portraits and landscapes. I watched what he was doing. When I was able to take an occasional art class, I would wish that it was longer. My peers always encouraged my art work. I liked creating art that impacts other people. Even when I was little – I began drawing on the walls in our house. Instead of punishing me, my dad bought me art supplies.
You were rebellious and early into graffiti art!
[laughs] I guess so! It’s the cookie cutter thing…if everybody’s doing it, if it’s been done already, why do it? I compare it to jars. You don’t want to be put in one jar, where the cap gets closed and you can’t do anything else. I never wanted that. Artists want to overflow from that jar and keep on filling other jars – experimenting and seeing new things.
You’ve been at your current job for three years, it looks like you’re doing new things all the time.
At XVP Studios it’s always something new, it’s always a challenge. I know that art or animation is not for everyone, but CRSM is responsible for a confused kid believing that he could go to college and have a career using his interest and talents.
by admin | Mar 1, 2021 | Alumni Spotlight
Ryan graduated from CRSM in 2016, and received his Bachelor’s degree in 2020. He is now working with a non-profit that focuses on supporting the development, growth and success of students in under-resourced schools. He is a full-time student success coach, partnering with classroom teachers in the city of Chicago, doing one-on-one tutoring and helping students cultivate social, emotional and academic skills.
The following conversation has been edited and condensed.
First, I have to bring up your moment of fame at CRSM – the picture of you in the 2014 CRSM Annual Report.
[laughing] Wow. That was really something. People were hanging the picture around the school, taping it to my desk. It was fun. My mother framed it and hung it in the house!
Of course, a proud mom. I’m going to include the picture in the article. Was she all in for you coming to Cristo Rey?
Oh yeah – way more than me. Luckily, she made the decision that I would attend CRSM; I wanted to go where all my friends were going.
I’m sure your CRSM experience ended up being quite different from your friends.
That’s for sure. My friends and associates are always amazed when they find out about my work experience, especially my work at Takeda’s pharmacogenomic testing area.
That does sound impressive. You had good grades in all your subjects at CRSM, did you put in a lot of time?
I worked really hard. I would come home from school and take a nap, wake up and do more work, eat dinner, and then do more. It worked out well, but AP Physics…gave me fits. I also ended up in an advanced Spanish class which seemed like a mistake – but because of that, I cruised through my Spanish requirement at Loyola U. [laughing]
The work certainly paid off. You were a Schuler Scholar and were awarded a Cristo Rey Scholarship, a 4-year full ride at Loyola University.
I wake up every day grateful for that. It changed my life in so many ways. Graduating from Loyola University debt-free is just part of the gift. When I was a freshman, my mother was quite worried; she was used to seeing excellent grades – I was struggling.
What happened?
The difficulty of transitioning to college surprised me – and my time management was poor. Luckily, my group of Cristo Rey Scholars were there for support – and Loyola steered me in a new direction. I was a Nursing major. It made sense; I knew I liked helping people and there was a clear need for male nurses. Only one problem, I just didn’t like it. By chance, I happened to be in a psychology course when Loyola hired me as an Orientation Leader. That was it. I loved the job and I switched to psychology. My grades went through the roof.
So you graduated with a degree in Psychology and realized how much you like working with people; that’s how you landed at City Year?
Yes. I really love working at City Year. I have to credit Ms. Hocter in Alumni Support at CRSM. She was important in my decision to join. I spend a lot of time working with students on their Biology and English homework, I work on lesson plans and sometimes I create video presentations that help, like explaining homeostasis. I also talk with students about the stress levels that come with remote learning.
What’s next? Will you stay at City Year?
Not sure yet, some people do stay. I’m looking seriously at counseling and academic advisory careers. I’m thinking I will go to grad school to get my guidance counseling license.
As an aspiring counselor, do you have any lessons learned you could share?
Well, maybe for CRSM seniors. “You keep hearing about grit? Believe me, it will come in handy. The combination of being grateful, resilient and 100% committed made it happen for me.”
by admin | Jan 31, 2021 | CWSP
Arlene, CRSM ’23, has been working with Discover Financial Services in Compliance Operations every Thursday this school year. But during CRSM’s two-week holiday break, Discover experienced what executives there described as an unusual and significant increase in work volume.
Kim Lotz, Senior Manager of Compliance Programs, talked about the situation-
“Obviously, the holidays are a bad time for an unexpected spike in business; Arlene stepped up and worked what amounted to a full-time schedule throughout her entire holiday break. Her efforts were a huge help in getting through a very high-volume time period. Navigating through our systems and producing quality results is something that comes very naturally for Arlene. She is doing the work of an analyst, and has a fantastic work-ethic. We are thrilled to have her as part of our team.”
Rick Weil, Senior Manager of Enterprise Security, speaking about the Corporate Work Study Program said,
”I should mention that in addition to Arlene, we also have Marcos, a CRSM student, working in our Global Command Center doing intelligence reports. They are both outstanding. CRSM students are responsive, show initiative, they check in with me, and very important – they’re not afraid to ask questions when there’s an issue.
I’ll say that it was a bit daunting when I first found out that I had two students to manage. When I met them, I thought they were seniors. Two weeks later, I found out that they were sophomores. They’ve been working remotely – and there’s never been a hitch. Their capabilities free-up team members to do even more important work.”
Great work Arlene!
If you know of any companies that could benefit from our corporate work study program, please contact Brian Weinberg at: 224-219-9724 BrianWeinberg@cristoreystmartin.org
by admin | Apr 1, 2020 | Alumni Spotlight
Laura (CRSM ’13, MSOE ‘21) and I first spoke while she was in the middle of her family’s move to a new residence and as she was starting her e-classes at Milwaukee School of Engineering. Like most students across the country, she is adjusting to the tectonic shifts occurring across the academic landscape. She spoke eloquently about the challenges she has faced as a Hispanic woman in a field traditionally dominated by men.
The following conversation has been edited and condensed.
Thanks for taking the time to speak with me – these are unprecedented times for all of us. It sounds like things are going well.
You’re welcome. I’m always happy to talk about CRSM. Things are going well at MSOE (Milwaukee School of Engineering), and at home. There are six of us settling in at our new home.
Are there are more Pizanos in CRSM’s future?
Oh yes. I have a younger sister on the way. There have been lots of us at CRSM – brothers, sisters, cousins. Let’s see, if I count correctly we’re at about…15 or 16. Mr. Odiotti remarked that it seems like every time a Pizano graduates, another one starts.
It’s a dynasty! And, having graduated from our old building in 2013, you’ll be out with a bachelors in engineering in 2021.
Well, maybe. I’m thinking about going directly for a Masters of Engineering. That will delay things a bit.
I’d like to go back for a moment, I’m interested in your time in Waukegan, you were raised there, I assume you went to public elementary school?
I did. But in our family, it was always understood that we would go to CRSM and consider college.
Your grades were excellent at CRSM, and you were a member of the National Honor Society. Were you involved in a lot of activities outside of academics?
I was a Student Ambassador, and I really enjoyed being involved with the activities that Campus Ministry offered. I led many of the prayer services. I led several of our retreats. I worked with PADS, The Food Bank, UMMA and Feed My Starving Children. I’m proud to have been part of a group at CRSM that started UKNIGHTED. (a student run immigration reform organization). We did fundraising to fill duffel bags with the basics for detainees who were released into extreme weather with whatever they had on.
I’ve found that some CRSM graduates find the adjustment to college challenging. What was your experience like?
For me, it was not so much the academics as it was the cultural adjustment. I was used to a heavy work load at CRSM. But when I left CRSM, most of my friends were girls. I was not prepared to enter a predominantly white, male environment as a Hispanic woman. That was difficult. In one of my first architectural classes I was the only girl in a classroom of fifteen.
And one of the only Hispanic people as well. That would be really daunting. Did you find resistance because of your heritage?
Sure. Someone once asked me if Mexico had electricity. [laughing] I told them a little bit, but we mostly use fire. But seriously, I have come to the conclusion that it really is more of an experience related issue. Most of my classmates have had no multi-cultural experience.
At the risk of being a “stereotyper”, engineering students can often be quiet and reserved.
[laughing] It’s often true. My point is that they might look “stuck-up”, but they just aren’t sure what to say – just like I didn’t know how to act. It’s much easier to be comfortable around people who have had similar struggles as yourself. Maybe it’s immigration issues. Maybe it’s financial – lower income kids had an easier time reaching out to me.
But I’m lucky that way – I am outgoing, and that has really helped. I joined the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). and I’m part of the school’s Diversity Council that’s gearing up to help all of the different ethnic groups on campus.
Speaking of that, I heard you were recently out of country.
Yes, I went to Panama with MSOE. We got back on February 28th. I was with the Water Brigade. We helped install a potable water system and a septic system. This summer I’ll be interning in Chicago as a junior engineer with RTM Engineering, a mechanical contractor.
It seems to me that you are going to be a member of a relatively small club – Hispanic females with a Masters in Architectural Engineering. Can you offer any advise to other people who may be encountering “traditional” barriers?
I would say this; you absolutely have to push yourself out of your comfort zone. If a person doesn’t reach out to you, you might have to do the reaching. You might get turned down. You will get turned down. You must keep an open mind to succeed.
by admin | Feb 29, 2020 | Alumni Spotlight
I first met Daniela (CRSM ’10, St. Mary’s University ‘14) at an alumni party in downtown Chicago. She agreed to speak with me about her travels from North Chicago to Honduras to Minneapolis and back again.
Her casual demeanor and winning personality belies an intensely independent and ambitious person who has her own definition of success.
The following conversation has been edited and condensed.
I’m glad we got to meet at the alumni function. Obviously it’s going well at Piper|Sandler and you like living in the city – it’s a lot different from North Chicago, Illinois…
Different from Minnesota too – I spent time in Minneapolis after graduating from St. Mary’s University. I was working on child protection cases and studying for the LSAT. It was a one of my “trying” times, I realized that I didn’t want to be a lawyer.
But that’s good right? It’s pointless becoming something you don’t want to be.
Well yes, but I’ve never thought of myself as a quitter – so this was an uncomfortable decision. Now I know I had to do it.
I saw that you played basketball at CRSM – no quitting there. Let’s talk about your time in North Chicago and at Cristo Rey.
Sure. I did grow up in North Chicago, and I was in Honduras for a short time when I was little. There were many challenges after that. I had to go to speech classes – which kept me out of theater. That was very frustrating. Now that we’re talking about it, [laughing] The King’s Speech is my favorite movie!
Well, your diction is excellent now…problem solved!
Thanks. Unfortunately, when I was in seventh grade the family started experiencing problems. Which was very rough on me and my younger brother. It seemed like they were never going to end. As our financial situation worsened, Mom was forced to work two jobs. As a naturalized citizen from Honduras, she had a language barrier to overcome. My father was hospitalized. There were relatives facing incarceration. At one point it looked like we were going to become reliant on Catholic Charities for help.
How did you get through it all?
My mom was a big motivator for me – and the teachers and staff at CRSM. The College Counseling Department really helped me keep a positive mind while encouraging me to apply to college and look for scholarships. My CWSP internships added to my courage and supported our family’s ability to keep moving forward. There was a lot of caring and support.
Was it your mom that got you to Cristo Rey?
Absolutely. She insisted on it. She kept it simple, “Go to college and get a job in an office, start a business – or work in a factory like me…choose.”
She is a tough woman. We didn’t get along for some time. I was always questioning her. My CRSM counselor said, “one of these days you’ll find yourself having drinks with her”. I said, “NO! I will NOT be doing that.” [laughing]…now I am!
Looking back, I think the combination of my questioning everything, my curiosity and her “toughness” made me always pursue what interested me. Take the initiative. Do it for myself.
You were obviously a curious kid, and also industrious.
Before CRSM, I was taking jobs cutting the neighbors’ lawns. Witnessing the hardships that my parents went through – hearing, “no we can’t afford another pair of shoes”, was part of becoming independent and ambitious. I just recently found some letters that I had sent to my dad…they were filled with remarks about going to college, getting scholarships, about getting what I want.
You got all of those things. CRSM seems to have been a good fit for you.
Without question. My work study experiences with city hall documents at the Village of Gurnee, and payroll work at ProData Workforce Solutions were huge. I loved the extracurriculars. The College Counseling Department helped me apply and win a 1st Gen Scholarship. My classes in History, Theology, and Spanish ignited my love of anything “liberal arts” and made me think outside of the box. I was at PADS with Campus Ministry and I still have all the cards and letters from my retreats.
You’re an outgoing person, I’m always interested in the transition from CRSM to college, how’d you do?
It was challenging. Not because of leaving home, that was always the goal. It was more of the cultural shift – you know, a small town in Minnesota, so different. I volunteered with C2C (Count Down to College), they help quite a few students make what can be a difficult transition. I was committed; I was given a full ride. Ultimately, a smaller, one-on-one university environment proved to be right for me. I also passed on playing basketball to concentrate on my studies – I did DJ for a while [smiling]; not many people were listening.
You had a significant scholarship, I’m sure that made things easier.
Of course. But many people don’t realize the financial burdens that remain even with a scholarship. During the summers I worked at McDonalds and at the Naval Station, which resulted in a scholarship that helped me buy a computer for school.
After graduating from St. Mary’s with a major in History and a minor in International Studies you came back and got your job in investment banking?
No. I moved back to Chicago after college and worked in real estate for a year. I ended up going back to Minneapolis, at the time thinking I was going to law school. That’s when I changed course, met with Piper | Sandler and took the job in the equity research department here in Chicago. I love it, I even have a fabulous mentor.
Lots of twists and turns on the road to what appears to be great success.
For sure. People define success in many ways. To me, overcoming obstacles and adversity is the real definition of success. My mom landed on her feet at AbbVie , we’re proud of each other. I’m going to get my Masters. Now, when the family gets together it’s good. I wouldn’t want to go through it again…except for Cristo Rey, maybe in the new building!
