What were your plans after high school, and how did the Hope Chicago scholarship change them?<\/strong><\/p>\nBefore the scholarship was announced, I didn\u2019t really have a clear plan. I knew I wanted to go to college, but I thought I would probably stay close to home and attend a city college. Once Hope Chicago was introduced, it opened a lot of doors. I started looking beyond Chicago and exploring different universities and majors, which is what led me to Illinois State. I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today without the Hope Chicago Scholarship.<\/p>\n
What was your experience like when you first arrived on campus?<\/strong><\/p>\nEverything felt new and outside of my comfort zone. There was definitely some culture shock because it was so different from what I used to back home. Being away from my family and figuring everything out on my own was challenging, especially as a first-generation college student.<\/p>\n
How did the Hope Chicago support system at Illinois State University help with your transition?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe program held regular meetings where we received important information about staying on track and maintaining the scholarship. They also made it clear that their doors were always open. Looking back, I wish I had used more of those resources early on, but they were there to support us.<\/p>\n
Was there a mentor or staff member who had a meaningful impact on your journey?<\/strong><\/p>\nDeanna Stewart (formerly with University College and now a program manager with Hope Chicago) and Faith Carter had a big impact on many of us in the first cohort. They were always checking in, asking about our grades, and making sure we were doing well. They also helped organize tutoring sessions and study environments that encouraged students to stay on top of their work.<\/p>\n
What community-building experiences have stood out to you?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe regular meetings helped us build connections with each other, and they often included activities so we could get to know one another. There were also larger events, like field days at the beginning and end of the year, which gave us a chance to connect in a more relaxed setting and celebrate our progress.<\/p>\n
From your perspective, what has helped improve student success in the program?<\/strong><\/p>\nI think building a stronger sense of community has made a big difference. Over time, the program has improved by understanding what works and what doesn\u2019t. Students who take advantage of the resources and ask for help are more likely to succeed. For me, choosing my major gave me direction and helped motivate me to keep going.<\/p>\n
How has your experience at Illinois State shaped who you are today?<\/strong><\/p>\nIt\u2019s helped me become more confident in myself and my decisions. I used to second-guess myself a lot, but now I trust what I know. I\u2019ve also discovered my interests within my field and developed a stronger sense of who I am.<\/p>\n
What advice would you give to students who feel unsure about starting college?<\/strong><\/p>\nDo your research and explore different majors. If something interests you, go for it. It\u2019s okay to start undecided, but choosing something you\u2019re passionate about can help you stay motivated and on track.<\/p>\n
How are you feeling as you prepare to graduate, and what are your plans next?<\/strong><\/p>\nI feel both excited and nervous. I tend to overthink about what\u2019s next, but I\u2019m looking into pursuing a master\u2019s degree abroad, possibly in London or somewhere in the U.K. I want to continue gaining experience and growing in my field.<\/p>\n
What has your family\u2019s reaction been to your college journey?<\/strong><\/p>\nMy family has been incredibly supportive. Every year, they reminded me to keep going, even during difficult times. They\u2019ve always encouraged me and reassured me that I could do it, and that support has meant everything to me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The path to college was not always clear for Angel Bahena, a graduating senior at Illinois State University.…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":780198,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5124],"tags":[960,5386,1818],"class_list":{"0":"post-780197","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago","8":"tag-chicago","9":"tag-il","10":"tag-illinois"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116534701525441571","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/780197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=780197"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/780197\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/780198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=780197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=780197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=780197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260430_ISUEOY_GradCelebration_Photo_EXPORTs-13-1024x683.jpg\")
The Hope Chicago Scholars class of 2026 during a graduation celebration at Illinois State University. (Photo\/Hope Chicago)<\/p>\n