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MORE ABOUT FRANCISCO

Graduation Date: June 2010

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

High School: Lincoln Park High

Awards & Achievements:

• STARS

Campus Involvement:

• LEAD-In!
• SLI-sponsored events
• Intramural basketball
• Regular volunteer
  
  

Francisco Valencia

Area of Study:
Political Science

My favorite thing to do on campus is… staying involved! I knew that as a commuter student it would be easy to go to class and go straight home for homework every night, and I also knew that I would only be happy if I was involved on campus, so I try to fill my schedule with events or meetings that interest me.

I decided to attend DePaul because… it is a great university in the city. I did not want to leave home, and DePaul gave me the most scholarship money, as well as the most inviting experience on campus. I knew that no matter what I decided to do, DePaul would help me reach my goals.

The learning environment here at DePaul is… what you make it. I wanted to be challenged, so I decided to apply for the Honors program. Taking classes that interest me — but also challenge me — has helped develop my work ethic and focus, as well as strengthened my future aspirations.

My favorite professor at DePaul is… Darren Trongeau was my English 103 teacher fall quarter, and he was engaging, challenging, and flexible. He graded students on performance and improvement and required many essays, but set in stages so it was easy to manage. He gave specific constructive criticism and improved the entire class’s writing ability.

When I have free time, I like to… play pick-up sports games with friends, read outside at a park or forest preserve, or find some activity sponsored by DePaul to get involved with.

My favorite thing to do on campus is… hang out with friends. The Student Center is a great environment to meet people or to catch up with each other. The Quad is also a sweet hangout spot when the weather is nice. The Ray Meyer Fitness Center is great for being active, and I like to go up to the basketball courts with a bunch of friends and shoot around.

One thing I didn’t know about DePaul before coming was… how many resources are available to students. I assumed it would be like any other college I’d visited, but there was a personal vibe to DePaul. Once on campus I had a peer mentor invite me on a mini tour of specific resources available, and it allowed me to take the initiative to explore both the Loop and Lincoln Park Campuses alone.

Here, the diversity of students, faculty and staff… is always present. Simply walking from class to class highlights one of DePaul’s crowning achievements as the most diverse university in the nation. Everyone on campus comes from a different background, and it never gets old to meet new people.

The greatest thing about going to school in Chicago is… having the cities resources at my disposal. From public transportation, to the free zoo and beaches, to the many different neighborhoods, Chicago is one of the greatest cities in the nation.

At DePaul, service learning is… a fulfilling and educating experience. It is strongly encouraged (and in some cases required), but it is something that most students look forward to. It is an opportunity for team-building and making friends, and also an opportunity to learn about yourself and your community.

The one DePaul experience I will always remember will be… my Discover Chicago class. Being a resident of Chicago, I took for granted many of the communities and resources I’d always had available, and this class awoke my curiosity for this city. I met my first friends in this class, and got an opportunity to express my leadership potential.

The best thing about DePaul is… how connected one can feel to it. I walk from class to class and it’s easy to get caught up in the rapidity of life, but sometimes I slow down and close my eyes and really feel the DePaul experience. It is unlike any school I’ve visited, and reminds me of what I value in life.

What I remember most about my first quarter at DePaul is… making friends. I didn’t know anybody coming to DePaul, so it was hard at first to “start from scratch” but I was able to relax and open myself up to people. I grew in confidence and that has followed me in everything I do.
My greatest success as a student here has been… making an impact. Whether it was providing a friend with some direction, helping a professor accomplish a class goal, or remaining involved and facilitating others’ experiences, I feel like I have had success here at DePaul.

After graduation, I plan to… keep moving forward in life! I believe it is important to figure out what life-path suits us, and then gain experience (such as internships) that affect the growth of our future potential. I hope to work on some political campaigns in the area, and keep moving up in rank, hopefully making the contacts necessary to lead a successful political life.

The one thing I’d like to say to students considering DePaul is… visit the campus! Have a stay-over, travel Chicago through the eyes of a DePaul student and ask as many questions as come to mind. College is going to be what you make it.


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