Bottom Line

Sharon, a recent graduate of University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and Bottom Line alum, always knew graduating from college would help her achieve her goals.

“I didn’t want to be another person who didn’t go to college,” said Sharon. “My parents have always told me I need to live up to my dreams,” she said.

Despite being diagnosed with cancer before her senior year of high school, Sharon’s dreams didn’t change. While she was managing frequent medical appointments and finishing high school, she also looked for support in applying to college. She applied to several college access programs, but she was excited to hear back from and be accepted to Bottom Line’s Access program shortly after applying.

“I went into the college process blind. I’m the first person to go to college in my family, so [my Bottom Line Advisor] helped me a lot,” said Sharon.

When she decided to attend UIC, one of Bottom Line’s target colleges, she continued on into the college Success program. Her first two years of college were academically challenging, and her Bottom Line Advisor encouraged her to seek out resources, proactively talk to her professors, and attend office hours.

“Most of the people I went to college with were also first-timers,” she said. “I’m thankful for Bottom Line, because who knows what my process through college would have been like otherwise.”

Fall 2020 was Sharon’s final semester of college, and it was a much different experience than she had anticipated before COVID-19.

“I didn’t know how to physically sit and take in all the screen time,” she said. “It was really hard to keep on with scheduling.”

She eventually found a new rhythm for virtual learning, planning out her study time, her physical work space, and scheduling her work. She graduated at the end of fall 2020 with a double major in Sociology and Political Science.

Sharon was excited to graduate and to be able to help her two younger siblings when they start applying to college. Her younger brother, who is a senior in high school, is now in Bottom Line’s Access program.

“I was able to finish, so they can finish too,” Sharon said. “Now they have me and I’ve gone through the process, so it’s easier for them,” she said.

While still in college, Sharon had started volunteering for Lurie Children’s Hospital, and she was eventually offered a paid student intern position. As she got closer to graduation, her manager was eager to offer her a full-time role.

Sharon was required to reapply for the full-time role and go through the interview process, and she worked with her Bottom Line Advisor to build out her resume and cover letter and ensure she was prepared.

She was offered the role and started working full-time in November while she finished her last semester of college.

While Sharon eventually wants to attend graduate school for social work, she enjoys her current position at Lurie Children’s Hospital in the Workforce Development and Multicultural Education department where she engages directly with students.

“I’m doing impactful work,” she shared. “I want to engage these students and help them know there is a career out there for them.”