Elizabeth

Attending college was never a question for Elizabeth, but the timing was. After high school she began working and deciding exactly what she wanted to do with her future. At 27, she enrolled in classes at Malcolm X College with clarity and a plan.

As a first-generation college student, Elizabeth wasn’t just stepping into higher education for the first time, she was stepping into new territory for her entire family. From the beginning, Malcolm X felt different from what she expected. Instead of a competitive, impersonal environment, she found connection.

“I didn’t think I would get along with everyone as well as I did, because I’m kind of a shy person,” she says. “But I really connected with my professors.”

Elizabeth found herself engaging deeply with literature, history, and gender studies. Professors knew her name, encouraged her thinking, and challenged her ideas. She decided to study English and gender studies.

“Literature broadens your perspective and deepens your understanding,” she said. “It’s not something tangible, but it shows up in your life in meaningful ways.”

One of the instructors who has influenced Elizabeth most is Professor Viggy Alexandersson. Professor Viggy nurtured Elizabeth’s love of gender studies and encouraged her to get involved on campus. Elizabeth became co-president of Triota, the honor society for gender, women, and sexuality studies. Through the organization, she hosted a film fundraiser to raise $350 to support Chicago street vendors and immigrant rights. Elizabeth is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for two-year colleges, and she has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her time at Malcolm X.

Her hard work has paid off in other ways. Elizabeth recently learned she was awarded a $34,000 per year academic scholarship and an additional $5,000 per year from a creative writing scholarship based on her writing portfolio. That portfolio included her work entitled “The Pleasure of Clothes as a Feminist Practice,” which was crafted in one of Professor Viggy’s courses.

As Elizabeth prepares to graduate in the spring of 2026 and finalizes her next steps in her education journey, she reflects on how far she’s come.

“Malcolm X has helped me grow because I’ve learned about so many inspiring people and so many cool things,” she says, holding back tears. “I’ve become the person I always knew I could be.”

She knows she will miss her professors, her classmates, and the sense of belonging she found on campus.

“I’m super proud to be a community college student,” she says. “Malcolm X is a place where you don’t get turned away. They accept everybody. Making education accessible to everyone—that’s such a beautiful thing.”

Wherever Elizabeth’s path leads next, she carries with her the confidence, curiosity, and community that helped shape her.