Below is a copy of a speech by CRSM Finance Director and CRSM 2010 alum Viridiana Fajardo:
Good morning,
It’s an honor to stand before you today as the Director of Finance and Operations at Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, a mother of two, a wife, a student at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern, and the owner of a franchise of Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant. I am also a proud first-generation college student and the oldest of five siblings, all of whom attended CRSM. My journey is a testament to the power of education and how it can transform lives, shape futures, and open doors to opportunities beyond what we might initially imagine.
After graduating from St. Martin de Porres High School in 2010, I embarked on a journey that has taken me through various stages of growth, learning, and achievement. My first step was at Lincoln Tech, where I earned a certificate as a Medical Assistant. It was a practical choice, and it gave me the foundation to start working in the medical field. But I knew that my journey didn’t end there. While working, I continued to pursue my education at the College of Lake County, where I earned my Associate’s degree. This milestone was crucial, as it represented my commitment to continuous learning and personal development.
With my Associate’s degree in hand, I went on to Robert Morris University, where I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. This was a pivotal moment in my life, as it opened the door for me to return to Cristo Rey St. Martin, this time as a professional. I started as an Admissions Coordinator, a role that allowed me to connect with students who were in the same place I once was. For seven years, I worked diligently in that department, learning, growing, and contributing to the mission of CRSM.
Education didn’t just change my career; it changed my life. It gave me the skills, the confidence, and the resilience to pursue bigger dreams. After seven years, I was promoted to Director of Finance and Operations, a role I’ve held for the past 2.5 years. In this position, I’ve had the privilege of overseeing the financial health and operational efficiency of the very institution that helped shape my future.
But my journey didn’t stop there. During the pandemic, I became a business owner, launching a franchise of Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant—a venture that taught me as much about perseverance and innovation as any classroom could. And, because education is a lifelong pursuit, I decided to push myself even further by enrolling in the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where I am currently working toward my MBA, with an expected graduation in 2025.
The impact of education at Cristo Rey St. Martin goes far beyond the classroom. It instills in students a sense of purpose, a drive to succeed, and the belief that no goal is out of reach. My journey from a high school graduate to a director, business owner, MBA student, and balancing it all as a mother and wife, is proof that with education, anything is possible. CRSM didn’t just provide me with an education; it provided me with the foundation for a future filled with endless possibilities.
As we celebrate 20 years of Cristo Rey St. Martin’s mission to empower young people, I am living proof of that empowerment. Education is the key that unlocks doors, the light that guides us through the darkness, and the engine that drives us toward our dreams. I stand here today as a proud example of what CRSM can do for its students, and I am deeply committed to giving back to the institution that gave so much to me and my family.
I cannot wait to see all of you all on this stage one day, telling your story to the future generation of Cristo Rey students to come.
Thank you.