Alyssa Navarro

Alyssa Navarro is a nursing major, Latino and Latin American Studies minor from Yorkville, IL

Hometown: Yorkville, IL

High School: Yorkville High School

Year: Expected graduation: 2026

Minor: Latino and Latin American Studies

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
I received a merit scholarship for my academics, and I received the Frerichs Scholarship and Ruth I. Hall Nursing Scholarship because of my success in the nursing program so far. The financial support has impacted my experience at NIU by allowing me to focus more on my academics and less on my financial situation.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
Originally, I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. I was a tutor for many years, and that made me realize I enjoyed helping my peers succeed academically. I decided to pursue nursing instead of education because I want to be able to help those who are suffering, and I especially want to help Spanish-speaking patients feel more comfortable in health care settings.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am majoring in nursing, and I decided on this course of study because of my experience with health care workers. Growing up, I was always determined to learn more about whatever illness a family member had so I could help them, and I was often my family’s translator in clinical settings. That pressure is something I would never want any other child to feel. I remember the relief I would feel whenever a Hispanic nurse would greet my family upon arrival at a clinic. I can confidently say that every nurse I’ve interacted with has been the most understanding person. Now, I want to be that person making a difference in other people’s lives and giving them a sense of comfort in a stressful situation. I also have a minor in Latino and Latin American Studies. Being a first-generation student, I did not really know what a minor was coming into college. I knew that as a nursing student, I would not have much room to take classes outside of that field. Despite this, I wanted to learn more about my culture and decided to take a Latino studies class. It was one of my favorite classes I have ever taken at NIU, and it is the reason I decided to declare the minor in Latino and Latin American Studies. I also knew it would be beneficial to learn more about the culture of many of my future patients.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
Something I found pleasantly surprising about my experience at NIU is the number of great opportunities I have been offered on campus. Specifically, I have been able to make history a couple of times here at NIU, and I do not believe I would have been able to say the same if I had decided to attend a different school. For example, I was a member of NIU’s Ballet Folklorico Aztlan’s first team. I was able to be a part of bringing Ballet Folklorico to campus, and we were even invited to perform at a Folklorico Festival in Los Angeles this past summer! With the help of a couple of classmates, I was also able to start NIU’s Hispanic Student Nurses Alianza. I will forever be proud of myself for taking the big step of making the organization a reality. Luckily, NIU is very encouraging and open to bringing new organizations to campus, and they offer so much support to those who decide to do so. Because of that, many students have gained the spark to start new organizations and make campus more of a home away from home.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
My favorite way to connect with other students is by talking to as many of my classmates as possible. During the first week, I like to sit in different spots in my classes because I get to know as many people as possible. It is also easy for me to talk to classmates because we always have at least one thing in common (the class we are taking). I like to suggest doing homework or studying together because the answer is almost always yes. Outside of class, I like to get involved in organizations and make plans with new friends. It is important to not be afraid to meet new people, and it is something I constantly try to do.

Are you involved in any student organizations, mentoring programs or extra-curricular activities? If so, which ones? How have they added to your experience as a Huskie?
I am a sister of the Zeta Upsilon chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. (LTA) here at NIU. Being part of this organization has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. Thanks to this lovely sisterhood, I have been able to improve as a person. For example, I have two older sisters who are also nursing majors. Thanks to them, I have felt more seen, and they have been my biggest supporters when it comes to nursing school. Being part of this organization has allowed me to improve my leadership and interpersonal skills. Prior to becoming a sister, I was more of a follower, but now I have held various leadership positions and have become more confident when it comes to networking. I have also been able to utilize these skills in another organization I am involved in: Adela de la Torre Latino Honor Society. In all, LTA has allowed me to feel more connected to campus and proud of who I am as a person and a Huskie.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The Latino Resource Center is definitely the resource that made me feel the most supported. For my first two years here at NIU, I lived on the Latinx Community Floor. I loved it so much that I returned for a third year, but this time as the community advisor for the floor. Since living on the floor, I have picked up a minor (Latino and Latin American Studies), joined an honor society (Adela de la Torre Honor Society) and joined a sorority (Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.). I was introduced to all of these through the classes and events at the Latino Center. I even started my own organization: Hispanic Student Nurses Alianza. As soon as the Latino Resource Center was notified of my organization becoming official, they quickly offered as much support as they could. This proved to me how much everyone at the center truly cares about their community on campus, and I will forever be grateful for that support.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
One of my favorite instructors was Theresa D. Annis, M.S., RN. I will forever be grateful for how she allowed my classmates and I to use the health assessment lab to practice for our next skills test. We were practicing for our vitals skills check, and this was definitely the one we were the most nervous for. We decided to ask her for extra help, and although this exam was not for the class she taught, she left behind what she was working on in order to help us. She let us take her blood pressure and gave us lots of advice. She is a great instructor because she recognized that there is not just one way to learn something. If one method did not work for us, she would try to teach us something else. My peers and I successfully passed the exam, and I give Professor Annis most of the credit (because she would not let me give it all to her). I also enjoyed the classes she taught (Health Assessment and Health Assessment Lab) because I could tell how much she loved teaching. She was so much of an inspiration that I am now strongly considering pursuing a Master of Science (M.S.) in nursing.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
I always encourage everyone to attend class regularly because you never know how it will benefit you. Each instructor is different, but it has been very beneficial when the instructor gives helpful tips and extra reviews in class that are not posted online. Also, some instructors give extra credit for attendance, which can be what makes or breaks a whole letter grade sometimes. One also has to realize that instructors are human, so sometimes they can find a mistake in a lecture during class, and it is not always clearly explained to those who were not there in person. Showing up regularly also allows one to gain a relationship with the instructor and feel comfortable asking for help and communicating any concerns they have about the class. Finally, if one is in class regularly, it is the easiest way to find and form a study group, which can be the start of lasting friendships.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
My favorite spot on campus is the East Lagoon. I go on walks there with my sorority sisters fairly often because it is one of our favorite ways to destress. When I need a moment alone, I like finding a spot near a tree to sit and relax. Something about its tranquility is what draws me to it. It is also comforting knowing that many other people are most likely there for the same reason.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
My best advice would be to go on campus tours. I was pretty set on two universities, but once I went on a campus tour, I did not have the right feeling. This made me realize that the “right school” is not always going to be the one with the best views or the biggest campus, but instead it is the one that makes you feel comfortable. I believe it is also important to research what organizations and programs the schools have to offer. Sometimes one school may offer something that another school does not, and that is important to recognize because getting involved can be the start of something big in your college career.

Why is a college education important to you?
A college education is important to me because I know my parents did not have the same opportunities I did growing up, and I want to make everything they have worked for worth it. I recognize that it is possible to be successful without a degree, but I know I do not have the qualities of a person who is strong enough to undergo various hardships in order to make it in life without a higher education. I am very grateful that my purpose in life is to receive a college education in order to pursue my future career and that I have the ambition to do so. Part of what keeps me going is that once I graduate college, I will be the second to have done so, even though I am the youngest of my generation in the family. I have also been a very independent person since I was very young, which is why everything I do is not only to make my family proud, but also to make my younger self proud. My journey has been very rocky, so I hope that once I graduate, I am able to serve as an inspiration to my loved ones. I want them to recognize that it does not matter what happens during your journey, as long as you make it to your destination, and it is never too late to start.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
In order to manage my time, I have various strategies I use to organize myself. For example, I use a website called “myHomework” where I list all of my assignments, quizzes, tests, etc., based on the course calendar. Then, I use Google calendar to write down all of my work shifts, event dates and meeting times. Finally, I have a paperback planner I use to write down my daily to-do list. Using various methods helps me stay organized without cramming everything into one resource. I also think it is very important to learn how to say “no” when you have a lot of responsibilities. That way, you can spend your free time however you want without stressing out too much.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
The best way to stay informed about events and services on campus is by following NIU organizations’ social media accounts. Not only do I follow the organizations I am in, but I also follow ones I am not in. It is helpful to follow as many NIU accounts as you find relevant (student accounts, organizations, resource centers, etc.) because they are always posting and reposting information regarding activities on campus.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
My favorite ways to recharge and relax are to go on a walk (by myself or with friends), have lunch/dinner with some friends or take a nap. I love going on walks at the East Lagoon because it helps me clear my mind since it is usually a calm setting. I also find eating a meal to be a good recharge method, and it allows me to catch up with my friends. Finally, I have been told by many professors that naps are very beneficial, and ever since I started taking them, I never went back.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
My current position is as a community advisor (CA) here on campus. This is my first year doing so, and it has been very rewarding so far. My goal is to make NIU a home to my residents the same way it is for me. I am a CA on the Latinx Community Floor, and most of the residents are first-gen students. This has made me more determined to be a mentor to them and assist them in ways that I have wanted to be helped. My hobbies vary, but I am always looking to try a new kind of art. I have tried playing instruments, joining a dance team, learning how to embroider, starting a scrapbook and so many other things. I am definitely a person who loves to learn new things, so it can be hard for me to stick to a hobby.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your NIU Huskie story?
Attending a predominately white high school, I often felt like I was never going to make it as far as most of the peers. Imposter syndrome hit the most when I attended the "Top 10%" ceremony, and many of my peers stated how they were attending top universities, or even earned enough scholarships to attend out-of-state institutions. Therefore, I was not expecting to feel so accomplished as I came to NIU. Much of what I have achieved during my time as a Huskie cannot be claimed by just anyone. It will forever make me proud to have attended a university that has allowed me to thrive and offered so much support along the way.