Illinois Valley Community College recently hosted a panel of four young Hispanic professionals who shared their college and career journeys, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Panelist Dr. Maritza Estrada-O’Brien, now a physician, emphasized embracing individual differences and finding mentors. The event aimed to inspire current students to overcome challenges and value their unique backgrounds.
“No one did the same things I did, but I think that’s helped me stand out in ways that others don’t,” Dr. Estrada-O’Brien said. She advised her young audience to make the most of what makes them different. “If you stand out, make it count.”
Accountant and law school graduate Edgar Lucero said he fell victim to “imposter syndrome,” which caused him to doubt his own achievements until he determined that “I worked hard and I did deserve to be there.”
The panelists all cited mentors at IVCC and in their careers who have made an important difference. Mentors don’t always come labeled and packaged, said Espinoza, a licensed behavioral therapist. “They can be anyone in your life; people you meet are there for a reason. You can find mentors at work, in the classroom, as professors, anybody. But you may have to seek them out and be open to accepting them when they come along.”
Lucero urged students to go looking for opportunities if they don’t come readily. “A lot of people are willing to give you a chance if you ask.” He got a start in a law office as a teenager doing copying or clerical work, and “even the small experiences” got him noticed ahead of other job candidates.
Castaneda-Arteaga advised students not to turn their backs on IVCC campus resources. She said she didn’t use tutoring “that could have helped” because she was ashamed to admit she didn’t know what her classmates seemed to. “If (a resource) is there, use it! There’s nothing wrong with asking for help.”
“If the only thing between you and success is a question, then ask it!” agreed Lucero. He also urged students to seek scholarships and grant opportunities by completing those applications. A scholarship through IVCC freed him from college debt and gave him room to switch career goals later.