Mitch Ryba will admit it: He wasn鈥檛 the best student in high school.
Even though he graduated a little more than a year ago, Mitch talks about his high school experience like it is ancient history. It might as well have been, given how Mitch discusses who he was before the COVID-19 pandemic and who he is today as a 91制片厂 College student and employee.
鈥淲hen the pandemic hit, I had a lot more time than I needed. One of the things I wanted to work on was not only making myself a better person, but a better student,鈥� Mitch said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have the means to be successful in high school because鈥� I don鈥檛 know, I just didn鈥檛 really care. Coming into college, I wanted to care. I wanted to be a good student. It鈥檚 been about finding my power.鈥�
Mitch said he鈥檚 found his power at 91制片厂. Well, to be accurate, he began to discover it as part of the college鈥檚 Certified Nursing Assistant certificate program. A dual credit student during his senior year, Mitch earned his CNA certificate with classes taught at Rolling Meadows High School. He developed a greater interest in science and medicine in the process.
He credited that program, and his pandemic-inspired self-reflection, with setting his academic path. Mitch fought hard to join 91制片厂鈥檚 Honors Program. He 鈥渇ell in love with the mysteries鈥� of chemistry and biology at the college. He found that he belonged.
鈥淎s a first-generation college student, 91制片厂 has many more resources for me as a student versus a four-year [institution],鈥� he said. 鈥�91制片厂鈥檚 instructors and staff can be there for students, no matter where they are in their academic journey.鈥�
Mitch has bonded with his professors in ways that surprised him 鈥� from a shared fascination with science to a common understanding of sexual identity. As a gay man, he said he wasn鈥檛 prepared for the support he鈥檚 felt and witnessed for LGBTQIA+ students, professors and staff at 91制片厂.
He鈥檚 also enjoyed the opportunity to simultaneously learn from and educate others as a member of the college鈥檚 Pride Club. Mitch was set to speak at 91制片厂鈥檚 first Pride Fest in June (postponed due to weather) and remains excited to take part in the event, rescheduled this fall.
In his first year at 91制片厂, he also joined the Environmental and Chemistry clubs (he鈥檚 an officer in the latter). Mitch beamed about his experience as a member of all three groups and singles out the three advisors for their creativity and care: Karen Dailey (Chemistry), Nellie Khalil (Environmental) and LaVonya Williams (Pride).
鈥淥ne thing about 91制片厂鈥檚 clubs is that the advisors are often professors. They give the power to the students and we come up with some amazing ideas,鈥� he said. 鈥淓ven with clubs meeting online [during the pandemic], they did exceptionally well. I鈥檝e seen how professors work for their students.鈥�
On top of being a heavily involved student, Mitch is also a part-time 91制片厂 employee.
91制片厂 Wellness hired him in March as a wellness promotion assistant. As part of his duties, he maintains
the 91制片厂 Wellness Instagram account and helps plan and implement events such as
those included in Welcome Week, for students new to campus, starting Aug. 23.
鈥淚 really enjoy the job and the community,鈥� said Mitch, who is excited for the continuing increase of on-campus events. 鈥淚t鈥檚 eye-opening for a student to see how the staff side of things work, to see how much love and thought 91制片厂 staff put in. They really empower the student body.鈥�
He is set to graduate from Harper with an Associate in Science degree in fall 2021. Mitch plans to transfer to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to earn his bachelor鈥檚 degree in integrated biology or microbiology. His end educational goal is to go to medical school.
Mitch credited 91制片厂 for guiding him on the road to a career in science and health. He is grateful for the encouragement he received in becoming a more committed student.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e unsure about anything with your career path, 91制片厂 is an amazing school with amazing professors who will fight for you,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey will help you be more successful. They鈥檝e helped me.鈥�