As a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution, and in honor of Latinx Heritage Month, John Jay College is recognizing the vital contributions Latinx people have made to our country and our society through a series of events, web articles, and special features on our YouTube page. In our “Latinx Celebration” article series, we’re connecting with our Latinx students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and learning more about their experiences, identities, traditions, and hopes for the future.
Being part of the Latinx community has given alumna Melanie Chiluisa ’20 a unique view of the inequities many students of color face while going through the education system and she’s determined to change what that journey feels like for her own students in At the Table, a non-profit organization that works with foster care youth pursuing a college degree. “Many of us who belong to marginalized communities are often overlooked and aren’t given the same level of opportunities or prioritization when it comes to education. But I know from my own journey at John Jay that education can be a positive and empowering experience, and that having caring educators who show up for you and who truly see you for who you are can change your life,” says Chiluisa, who graduated from the College with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish. “At John Jay, not only did I find myself and create a deeper connection to my Latinx roots and the Spanish language, but I also found my purpose. Stepping foot in the Spanish classes and Modern Language Center at John Jay was a turning point in my life, for my academic journey, and my professional career. It’s the reason I chose to work in education.”
“Stepping foot in the Spanish classes and Modern Language Center at John Jay was a turning point in my life, for my academic journey, and my professional career. It’s the reason I chose to work in education.” —Melanie Chiluisa
Feeling At Home
Deciding to come to John Jay was an easy decision for Chiluisa who saw the College’s diversity and role as a Hispanic-Serving Institution as a way to deepen her relationship to the Latinx community and be among people with common life experiences. On campus, she often found herself engaging with her peers, and interacting with mentors, faculty, and staff in the Modern Language Center, where racial, cultural, and language diversity was regularly celebrated. “The Modern Language Center is where most Spanish majors would go during their free time. It was the space where I felt the greatest sense of belonging and where a lot of my self-discovery took place,” says Chiluisa, remembering how validated she felt. “Being at John Jay definitely brought me a greater understanding of the value of diversity, and it showed me just how incredible people are. No matter the obstacles we face, we are more than capable of doing extraordinary things.”
In the classroom, Chiluisa underwent a similar life-affirming and confidence-boosting experience. “Taking Modern Language courses changed how I saw the community that I belonged to and the value that I held as an individual and professional,” she says, adding that as a Spanish major she worked closely with faculty in the Modern Languages and Literature department who encouraged her to truly be herself, speak her language, and go after her dreams. One of those professors, María Julia Rossi, Ph.D., left an indelible mark on Chiluisa, who found herself being uplifted by Rossi’s optimism and belief in her. “To me, professors like Professor Rossi, are a rare find. The support, motivation, and guidance I received from her throughout my time at John Jay meant the world to me—she truly believed in me—and led me to where I am today.”
“Taking Modern Language courses changed how I saw the community that I belonged to and the value that I held as an individual and professional.” —Melanie Chiluisa
Recognizing Her Passion
As a John Jay student, Chiluisa participated in several empowering experiential-learning opportunities that helped increase her self-confidence, strengthened her voice, and enabled her to zero-in on her goals for the future. She presented at several Latinx student conferences where, speaking in Spanish, she shared her research findings and creative stories with peers. “I remember at first feeling really nervous and so out of place. I thought my work wasn’t good enough, I thought that I wasn’t enough, but my peers and the faculty supported me, and I got through each conference successfully and feeling empowered,” she recalls. “It’s a perfect example of what a bit of motivation, guidance, and opportunity can do for a person.”
She also had a chance to teach during the 2019-2020 academic year as part of the first cohort of the Teaching for Social Justice Fellowship, a partnership between the Teachers College, Columbia University and John Jay. While at the yearlong fellowship, Chiluisa worked with students from underfunded, high-needs schools and was able to get their take on education. “I remember asking one Latinx student what they thought about college. The student said it wasn’t meant for them. When I asked why, they said, ‘I just won’t make it in college.’” The student’s response was one Chiluisa found herself relating to from her own childhood experiences. “Plenty of underserved, Black and Latinx youth share that same opinion, especially if they’re an English-language learner,” she says. “Language is a barrier to education when it shouldn’t be. More often than not, support and motivation are non-existent in these underserved communities—it’s something that must change.”
Teaching the Next Generation
Hoping to be a changemaker for the next generation of students, Chiluisa is devoting herself to a career in education and teaching students that they are more than capable of achieving their dreams. As a Tutor and Educational Coordinator for At the Table, Chiluisa hopes to impart the same level of care and attention she received from her professors at John Jay to her own students. “I want to help motivate our At the Table students so that they know they can go to college, succeed academically, graduate, and accomplish great things in life,” she says.
“I know from my own experience at John Jay, that support, encouragement, and steady guidance can go a long way, and a wonderful, fulfilling future is more than possible.” —Melanie Chiluisa
According to At the Table, nationwide just three percent of students in foster care go on to earn their bachelor’s degree by the age of 26, a statistic the organization strives to change through its one-to-one tutoring, coaching, and academic advisement sessions. “There’s a real sense of uncertainty regarding the future when you come from an underserved or underrepresented group, whether you’re Latinx, Black, or in foster care. There’s this belief that you won’t succeed in school, that you’ll never make it to college, that you won’t amount to anything in life. I want my students to know that these negative words are pure lies. They can beat the odds and any obstacles in their way,” she says. “I want to help our students along their journey and push them to reach their full potential. I know from my own experience at John Jay, that support, encouragement, and steady guidance can go a long way, and a wonderful, fulfilling future is more than possible.”
