Scholarship support helps student pursue her passion for healthcare
Fatima Cervantes-Ceballos, Public Health major, Class of 2028
Fatima Cervantes-Ceballos, Public Health major, Class of 2028
Every year, Loyola University Chicago attracts students from all over the nation and beyond – between its beautiful campuses, a Jesuit mission rooted in caring for others, and strong academics spanning across every discipline, it offers unmatched learning experiences inside and out of the classroom.
For students like Fatima Cervantes-Ceballos, scholarships help turn that opportunity into reality. Donor support gives students the ability to fully embrace the Loyola experience, pursue their passions, and make the most of the opportunities available to them.
“I was raised by a single mother with two kids. But one thing she always prioritized was our education. She made sure to have us in private school, even though she had to work tireless nights. So, when I received my scholarship, it meant the world because my mom no longer had to stress about where I would go to college and how she would pay for it, especially because my younger brother is also still in private school and paving his own path forward. This opportunity truly changed my life because now I can achieve my goals of becoming a doctor.”
Fatima, a Cristo Rey Scholar - a community-centered, faith-based award that supports students who primarily identify as first-generation and/or from limited-income backgrounds - chose to pursue Loyola after attending Arrupe Jesuit High School in Denver, Colorado. She was just one of five participants selected from all Jesuit high schools, joining a cohort of roughly 20 students here. And while this opportunity initially presented the financial means to attend the University, it ultimately provided so much more.
“Our cohort, the scholars’ group, is one of the smallest here. And because of that, we’re extremely close. Most of us come from out of state, are first-generation, and are of Latino descent, so we’re always able to relate to one another which makes it easy to confide in everyone. If one of us is struggling, we have an entire group of people to reach out to and rely on.
But I think one of the biggest blessings is the academic guidance I've received over the years. When I entered Loyola, I was a biology pre-med major because I thought I had to be. After my first biology class, I went to my advisor and was so lost; I didn’t think I could do the bio track but knew I had a passion for medicine and helping people. So, hearing her reassure me that as long as I take the prerequisites, I could still achieve that goal, was everything. And without this scholarship, I wouldn’t have had access to a specialized advisor like her. Now I’m a public health major and love it. The whole department is amazing, including the professors, and it’s truly a privilege to get to learn from them, alongside my classmates. I love healthcare, I love helping people, and just knowing that my advisor saw that in me and was able to be like, ‘it's okay, you can drop biology, you can major in public health, and you'll still be successful,’ was life-changing.”
While scholarships certainly open doors to classroom learning, they also lead to lessons gained within the broader community at large.
“Being a Cristo Rey scholar is unique because this cohort focuses on giving back outside of the institution. Every year we’re what we call ‘devoted’ to a certain community. For example, last year we were devoted to children in the hospital so we wrote letters of hope to them, created interactive media content for special occasions like Christmas… any little things that could put a smile on their faces and distract from what they’re going through. My freshman year, we were devoted to helping homeless people in Chicago, which involved activities like gathering supplies for and handing them out to them. And I think this year our focus will be on the immigrant population. Our faith, specifically in the idea of helping others, is extremely important to us because we come from Jesuit schools and we made the choice to continue the same type of education.”
Although it is Fatima who has shaped her incredible collegiate career through studying hard, showing up for her scholarship cohort, and helping the community, the opportunities at hand would not have been possible without the transformative gifts made by our donors.
“I am so grateful for the generous support I’ve received and so thankful that someone believed in a student like me. Because of this scholarship, I can build a future where I too can give back and make a difference in the lives of the families that I hope to one day serve through my work in healthcare. I am only able to experience what I have so far at Loyola because of the financial support I’ve been given.”