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How a student learned valuable skills to launch a career — and pay it forward

We’re committed to supporting the next generation of leaders and helping students like Roberto.

Dec. 02, 2024 5-minute read

"Cristo Rey gave me the practical skills and confidence I needed to succeed in the workplace, and inspired me to give back to my community.”

I grew up in Cicero, which is a town just outside of Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. As a child, my world was shaped by my hardworking immigrant parents and their Mexican heritage. Their dreams for me were rooted in one thing — education. They believed it was the key to a better life. But I wasn’t sure which path to take and felt nervous about my future.

Before discovering Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Pilsen, I attended a large junior high school in Cicero, where most students were expected to continue to the local public high school. While the high school had its strengths, its big student population made it challenging to form close relationships with teachers. I wanted a high school experience that would allow me to build strong connections with my teachers and peers, as well as effectively help me in exploring potential career paths.

That’s when I found Cristo Rey. My acceptance changed everything, as it is a small school where teachers take the time to get to know you and care about your success. I was so excited to be part of the community there and my family was thrilled.

I joined the basketball team and was involved with the personal finance club for a year, which contributed to my interest in finance. What stood out to me was being able to take classes in Spanish, as it allowed me to build a stronger connection to my cultural identity.

Building connections

For me, the biggest game-changer was Cristo Rey’s Corporate Work Study Program. It matches students with professional jobs — like hospitals and financial service firms — and allows them to earn money for their high school tuition while learning career skills. This program sparked my interest in business and eventually shaped my decision to study finance at Georgetown University. The connections I made in the program helped me land internships, build a network and shape my future. I want to get into investment banking, which is the path I’m pursuing now.

Instilling values Being at Cristo Rey didn’t just open doors for me academically, it instilled values. The importance of caring for the whole person has been a lesson I’ve carried forward, not just in my studies, but in my relationships with friends, professors and professionals in the business world.

One of the things I appreciate most about Cristo Rey is the sense of shared experience. Many of the students come from Mexican immigrant families, like mine. So, when we all advanced in our academic careers, it felt like we were doing it together. We shared a bond, which continues today as I maintain strong connections with my classmates.

My experience at Georgetown has been amazing — coming here was the best decision. I’ve built independence and connected with people from many different backgrounds, fields of work and walks of life. Now that it’s my senior year, I feel prepared for the workforce, thanks to the technical and soft skills I began developing at Cristo Rey. Everything I’ve learned started there.

Giving back

My career is important, but my other big goal is to give back. I’ve always taken pride in helping others. That passion started at Cristo Rey. There are still challenges the Mexican community in Chicago faces, like poverty, crime and limited resources, so I want to be someone who can help others find their way through those obstacles.

If I could offer some advice to future Cristo Rey students it would be this: Never forget where you came from and always remember your purpose for applying to this school. Cristo Rey will open doors, but it’s up to you to walk through them. Stay open to new opportunities, embrace the connections you make and be willing to learn.

About Cristo Rey Jesuit High School

Founded in Chicago in 1996, Cristo Rey offers a dual-language, college-prep education combined with real-world work experience to students with limited financial means. The school aims to empower students by preparing them for success in college and leadership roles in their communities and beyond. To learn more about the school, visit their website Opens a new window..

Through its Corporate Work Study Program, Cristo Rey Pilsen partners with more than 100 local organizations, providing students with professional work experience, which helps cover a portion of their high school tuition. This hands-on approach equips students with valuable workforce skills, professional connections and insights into potential career paths. With nearly 2,700 alumni, Cristo Rey Pilsen is proud of its bachelor’s degree completion rate, which is over three times the national average for similar demographic groups.

CIBC’s support — helping build stronger communities

We’re committed to removing barriers to kids achieving their dreams — a core principle of CIBC Miracle Day, a proud, charitable giving tradition working with our clients, employees and children's charities.

Every year on the first Wednesday in December, our CIBC Capital Markets team and CIBC Wood Gundy Investment Advisors donate their fees and commissions to help kids around the world access vital support services and programs. Team CIBC at our head office in Chicago shows their support for Miracle Day through local fundraising activities.

We’ve partnered with Cristo Rey through their Corporate Work Study Program since 2008, supporting 6 students annually by providing work experiences at CIBC. We also support fundraising initiatives and will be supporting students with a new scholarship fund for those enrolled in the Driehaus College of Business at DePaul University, with our first recipient anticipated in 2026.

We’re committed to supporting the next generation of leaders. Through our partnership with Cristo Rey, we’re helping create opportunities for students like Roberto.