Video Interviews
These interviews feature community college graduates (and near graduates) and first-generation students reflecting on their academic journeys in their own words. Each video offers insight into the motivations, challenges, and decisions that shaped their experience—from first-day anxiety to choosing majors, managing work and school, and building relationships on campus. You’re invited to listen deeply, pause where something resonates, and share these stories with students or colleagues who may benefit from them. When viewing these interviews, please:
Do not download, repost, or share the videos outside of this site.
Approach the stories with the same care and respect you would in a face-to-face conversation.
Thank you for helping protect and honor the voices of our students.
There are two ways to navigate the video library.
To get to popular themes or to return back to the full video library, use the “skip to” feature below.
To follow smaller themes, note that each video post has tags listed at the bottom of the description page. Click on a tag to get to other videos with the same tag.
Click on the student’s photo to get to their full interview.
Skip to: featured interviews | faculty and staff interviews | 2025 interviews | back to full interview library
Marnee
TURNING PAIN INTO PASSION FOR SERVING THE COMMUNITY
Marnee graduated with an AS in science in 2022 and now studies sociology and philosophy at UIC, with the goal of becoming a community college president. One of ten children, they dropped out of high school at 18, worked as a janitor, and returned to school determined to succeed. As an evening student, Marnee founded the Night Student Advocates to expand after-hours resources and later served two terms as student government president. Despite personal and financial hardships, rejections, and self-doubt, their peers’ determination—and the support of students, faculty, and a close campus community—kept them moving forward.
Em
WORKING TO OVERCOME BURNOUT AND SOCIAL ANXIETY ON THE PATH TO AN ENGINEERING DEGREE
Em graduated in 2025 and is transferring to complete their engineering degree. After high school burnout and two years in customer service, they returned to college with a passion for making STEM more inclusive. They’ve relied on professor office hours, the Wellness Center, and the Access Center. Em has found that college has built their confidence and helped them lessen their social anxiety. They speak thoughtfully about both the promise and pitfalls of AI in school and in everyday life including how they use AI to help understand social cues.
Arlin
FROM LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND SELF-DOUBT TO SUCCESS THROUGH DISCIPLINE AND SUPPORT
Arlin graduated with a major in data science in 2025 and is now headed to University of Illinois at Urbana/Champagne. She moved to Chicago from Mexico before high school, and the language barrier was so challenging that neither her nor her parents were sure she would even make it through high school. Her aunt motivated her to continue and now Arlin realizes that going to college and acting as a role model for other students like her has become her biggest motivator. Arlin has faced a lot of self-doubt over her college career but relies on her strong discipline—and willingness to ask for help—to push through.
Oscar
BUILDING CONFIDENCE THROUGH CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT AND INTEGRITY
Oscar graduated in 2024, earning his degree in part to honor his parents, who never had the opportunity to attend college. He has since joined the army to see the world and gain new experiences before deciding on his next step. In college, he was initially reluctant to seek help but soon discovered the value of campus resources and now urges students to use them from the start. He made use of tutoring, TRIO, and office hours, and especially enjoyed his role as a campus ambassador—an experience he highly recommends. College, he says, helped him become less shy and more confident; he even briefly served as student government president. He encourages students to focus on truly learning and acting with integrity rather than relying too heavily on AI.
Yvette
GAINING MOMENTUM FROM CHANGING MAJORS AND MAKING FRIENDS
Yvette graduated with a degree in elementary education in 2024 and is now studying urban education at UIC. Yvette originally planned to go into accounting but found that her passion led her to education. She now feels extremely motivated to be a teacher to help other first-generation students like herself. Although she wasn’t originally sure college was for her, it now feels like a perfect fit, even when she has to make sacrifices to prioritize school. She highly recommends that students get to know their peers in class and attend club events to build community on campus.
Precious
DISCOVERING THE POWER OF RESOURCES AND SELF-ADVOCACY
Precious graduated in 2025 with an associate degree in business administration and plans to transfer once she hears back about scholarship opportunities. Her first exposure to college came years earlier, when she accompanied her grandmother to classes. Now, her goal is to become an entrepreneur to help communities in need. She reflects on the challenges of transitioning from high school to college. After initially taking on too many classes, she found the rhythm that works best for her and has become skilled at using campus resources, including those that students sometimes overlook. (She shares her tips in this video.) Precious believes college builds resilience and the ability to advocate for oneself.