Kevin still remembers the day he was accepted to the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), his dream school for two years. It was also his birthday.
“I was ecstatic,” he said. “My birthday present was getting accepted to college.”
For Kevin, the acceptance letter was exciting, but it was only the beginning. He was one step closer to becoming a financial analyst—a dream that inspired him to join College Possible and pursue higher education with the support of his coach.
After graduating Morgan Park High School and enrolling at UIC, Kevin quickly discovered that succeeding in college would require more than gaining admission. He had to navigate an unfamiliar campus, balance competing responsibilities, and tackle a challenging accounting course. The transition was more difficult than he expected, but he was determined to keep moving forward.
Fortunately, Kevin didn’t have to navigate those challenges alone. His College Possible advisor, Jack, helped him stay focused when the transition felt overwhelming. “It’s hard for students to be open about everything they’re going through, but Kevin is always willing to share his experiences with me,” Jack said. “I genuinely know what’s going on in his life. He doesn’t waver, even when it’s tough for him.”
Together, they developed strategies to help Kevin succeed, from passing difficult classes to building the career he envisioned. “We had countless conversations about my accounting class, and Jack always had something to offer, whether it was a study technique or words of encouragement,” Kevin said. “When I used the study skills he suggested for my final exam, I passed.”
The support Jack gave extended beyond academics: he encouraged Kevin to become more active on campus. “I see a lot of students struggle with a sense of purpose in college,” Jack said. “Kevin and I talked about setting up milestones along the way to his goals, and getting involved was one of them.”
As Kevin began his sophomore year this fall, he kept Jack’s advice in mind. He attended UIC’s involvement fair and joined an organization focused on analyzing real-world business case studies, which is valuable professional development for his future career.
College Possible advisors like Jack visit local colleges regularly to meet with students and help them locate resources on campus. During office hours at UIC earlier this fall, he was working with a freshman who expressed difficulty finding community on campus and keeping up academically. Kevin, who was sitting nearby, joined in. “He provided mature but friendly advice that really got through to the other student,” Jack said. “It was great to see Kevin step up into a mentorship role without me even asking.”
As he moves through his sophomore year and beyond, Kevin knows he has someone in his corner cheering him on. “Jack has been a very important part of my college experience already,” he said. “I could not ask for a better advisor.”
