Alumna Returns to CRSM to Talk About “Taboo” Mental Health Issues with Students

Alumna Returns to CRSM to Talk About “Taboo” Mental Health Issues with Students

At one point in the pandemic, CRSM alumna Marilu Bueno, 22, a college psychology and theater major, realized that high school students at her alma mater had spent a significant chunk of the last two school years isolated from friends and in a fractured learning environment. She wondered if it made them feel sad, anxious, lonely, or stressed-out.

Her musings prompted the Class of ’19 grad to focus her senior-year qualitative research project at Kalamazoo College on CRSM juniors and seniors. She was interested in exploring mental health issues and how they impact minorities and other vulnerable populations. The effects of the pandemic brought them to the forefront, making her research very timely.

“My goal with the project was in many ways to let the CRSM students know they are not alone if they are struggling with anxiety, depression or feeling overwhelmed,” says Marilu, 22. She is on the Dean’s list at Kalamazoo and is a Schuler Scholar and voted “Most Outstanding Student,” while at CRSM.

Marilu returned to Waukegan this summer to spend two months interviewing, observing, and working with a focus group of about 20 CRSM juniors and seniors. Now back at college, she is compiling her findings to be presented to CRSM social workers and leadership later this fall, and of course her professors.

Despite the grace and resilience CRSM students demonstrated as they dealt with the challenges of COVID-19, they, like many other teens, have difficulty seeking treatment for depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues, she says. As children of immigrants, CRSM students also face some generational challenges in trying to get their parents on board, says Marilu.

“There is a culture stigma,” she says. “I know this myself that students are worried that they are letting their parents or guardian down because our parents are very proud of us being in school. As first generation students, we feel it is our role to uphold the legacy of the family and that we must succeed. Students feel like if they say they are depressed or anxious, they are letting their parents down. One of my goals most likely will be educating the older generation and the community that it’s okay to seek help from a counselor.”

An aspiring psychologist, Marilu wants to work with vulnerable populations such as immigrants and plans to go on to graduate school to further her education.

Her advice for CRSM students: “Understand that especially as upper classmen, there is a lot of stress as you’re trying to figure out what college you want to go to and what you want to major in. Take one step at a time, but don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Cristo Rey has caring teachers and counselors who are there to help you.”

Championing Public Health: Alum advocates all people receive best medical care possible

Championing Public Health: Alum advocates all people receive best medical care possible

Brian De La Cruz, CRSM Class of 2017, and a first-gen college graduate, lives by the words of Principal Dr. Michael Odiotti in his steadfast commitment to building a career in public service and equitable healthcare: “The gritty person has the ability to never give up.”

The past year was one that has brought numerous unforeseen challenges — the 22-year-old was called home to Waukegan to care for his mother, father and older brother who all were hit with serious cases of COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic. But, Brian, 22, graduated with a Business and Economics degree from Wheaton College and landed the position of Business Operations Coordinator for the American Medical Association (AMA’s) Education Center. It’s a position he strived hard for during his internship last year for the premier national medical association. The organization supports physicians, residents and medical students at every step of their education and careers.

In his role at the AMA, Brian works on the AMA Ed HubTM to provide high-quality education for physicians and other medical professionals so they can stay current and continuously improve the care they provide.

Brian is passionate about working to advance health equity and end healthcare injustices, to disrupt and dismantle the systems that aren’t working and reimagine and rebuild these systems to ensure justice. He’s already envisioning a 10-year career plan, a plan inspired by growing up in Waukegan.

“I want to elevate the needs of my community and center them in the discussion to improve their health outcomes”says Brian.

He knows firsthand about some of the challenges facing people living in Waukegan and towns where their zip codes thrust them into the crucible of racism and low socioeconomic status and produce harm and inequalities in education and deep-seated barriers to medical care.

This fact hit like a bolt of lightning during the last year when the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic revealed deep-seated inequities in healthcare for the community living in the 60085 zip code and amplified the social and economic factors that contribute to poor health outcomes. It was brutal watching his parents and brother battle the virus and struggle for access to treatment. Waukegan as the sixth hardest hit town in the state for COVID-19 cases.

“I saw firsthand what happens to people with chronic disease and the brokenness of the healthcare system,” he says. “I feel the need to champion the stories behind this unfairness and continue to shine the light on them.” Thankfully, all of his family members have recovered from COVID-19.

Grabbing on to the grit bandwagon

It hasn’t been an easy road for Brian, who is the first member of his family to graduate high school and go to college. He was a “C” student in middle school. That changed when he entered high school and was embraced by a supportive community of caring educators at CRSM who pushed Brian to reach his full potential, he says.

There’s no question, he says, that his perseverance and dedication to long-term goals took root at CRSM where he maintained a 4.0 GPA all four years, was the senior class president, a National Honor Society student and president of the Student Ambassadors. Through the Corporate Work Study department, he worked in the multi-cultural marketing department at Walgreens’ corporate headquarters throughout high school. During the summer before college, he worked as a full-time intern on the development team at College Bound Opportunities, where he was also a scholar his junior and senior year.

Brian feels called to give back and to serve others through ministry and volunteerism. He’s been a youth coordinator at Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Parish and helped create the youth group at Kingdom Voice Ministry, when the church was just starting in Waukegan.

“Cristo Rey created a path for me to follow and now I want to do that for other young people,” says Brian, who serves on the board of directors for the Wheaton College Alumni Association. “I look back and think about walking into Cristo Rey and how I learned as a freshman in high school to carry on conversations with adults at work. I can’t imagine many freshmen are able to do that. And Dr. O. really inspired me that no matter how difficult things are, to never give up. As a first-generation student, the barriers to overcome were many, but with the support from CRSM and CBO, I knew I could dream big.”


Advice for CRSM students:
 “Dare to break the systems and barriers that get in the way of your personal journey.”

 

Girl Undaunted: An Interview with Laura Pizano

Girl Undaunted: An Interview with Laura Pizano

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 PADSThe 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.

 

 

“Success Can Be Defined in Many Ways”: An Interview with Daniela Martinez

“Success Can Be Defined in Many Ways”: An Interview with Daniela Martinez

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 workinon 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!

“CRSM has always been there for me”: An Interview with Dulce Zarinana

“CRSM has always been there for me”: An Interview with Dulce Zarinana

Dulce (CRSM ’16, Carthage ’19) and I met at CRSM the afternoon of the Alumni Christmas party. We spoke about her involvement with Campus Ministry’s volunteer trips, her bachelor’s thesis, early graduation from Carthage College and her aspirations in politics.

 

The following conversation has been edited and condensed.

 

Thanks for meeting with me. This worked out well, meeting here at the new campus before tonight’s Alumni Christmas Party.

It’s great seeing the new campus, I have stayed close to CRSM. I’ve been helping on a number of trips – to St. Mary’s University and quite a few retreats – four or five if I’m remembering correctly.

I also heard that when you were here as a student, you had a 3.18 average and you racked up a lot of service hours.

That’s true. At one point, it seemed like I was signed up every week. I participated in all of the long trips and accumulated a lot of hours…[smiling] I kinda became the “volunteer girl”.  I’m currently investigating a service opportunity. I’ve applied at JVC (Jesuit Volunteer Corp.)

That’s certain to be a transformative experience. I’d like to talk about some of the other transitions you’ve made; for instance from primary school to Cristo Rey and then into the work study program.

I grew up 5 minutes from CRSM and attended Catholic grammar school; so coming to CRSM was not a difficult leap. I would say that my work study experience was definitely a wake-up call. I was always an outgoing kid. But in work study, I found myself surrounded by serious adults – in serious situations. I found myself working with numbers, or data, and it mattered what I did with that information.

It sounds like you took your business partner assignments seriously. 

The seriousness of the work place was not lost on me.  I worked at Stabin House, (note: a facility for homeless women with children), Grainger and Stericycle. My parents were a good example for me as well. My dad was at Stericycle for 25 years and my mother runs a successful cleaning company.

Very goal oriented people, they were supportive around your college efforts?

Absolutely. I’m first gen college. My parents immigrated from the same small town in Mexico.  They didn’t know each other in Mexico – they met here in the US. But they were committed to, as Dr. Odiotti always says, getting me to and through college. But that goal was NOT easy.

Meaning, the goal of college?

Yes, college and finance. As a first gen college family, I…we…knew nothing. FAFSA, scholarships, grants, loans – it was almost gibberish. The CRSM counseling department got us through. Ms. Chavez was there for me. She actually came up to Carthage College to help. At one point, I lost federal Pell Grant monies.  Cristo Rey awarded me the Promise Scholarship. They are largely responsible for my graduating from college. CRSM has always been there for me.

Well, you reached that goal early; graduating in 3 1/2 years. What’s next? I heard law school was on your radar.

Not any longer. I visited a number of schools and realized that law school is not my passion – it’s Congress, I want to run for the Senate. I’ve worked on a number of Republican campaigns; unlike the Dems they pay their interns, so I’m now ready to get involved with the Democrat’s critical efforts in Wisconsin.  I see myself starting my career in the 10th District, but I want to get my Master’s in Gender Studies at DePaul.

Was your Bachelor’s thesis on gender studies?

No, it was an exploration of the policies, rhetoric and racism within the Trump Administration and similar xenophobic movements going back to the 1800’s.

Your parents must be really proud, a Bachelor’s – going on for your Master’s.

They are proud. Although they are way more conservative than I am. They’re not saying where did we go wrong [laughing] but my more progressive views do make them a bit uncomfortable.

We’re almost out of time. I often ask if people if they have any thoughts for CRSM students and grads – any words of wisdom for them?

Well, I was a freshman during the 2016 election – so I guess I would say: speak up, don’t stay silent. And when I’m in office, [smiling] my interns will be from Cristo Rey.