Graduate Essays - Marco Adrianzen Ruiz: I saw the huge community I had built

I'm so happy to be here on this beautiful and exciting day! It’s an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to speak in front of all of you and share my story.

My name is Marco Sebastian Adrianzen Ruiz, and I’m an international student from Lima, Peru. I graduated with my Associate in Science degree this past summer.

Before I get into the emotional part, I want to congratulate the class of 2024 for not only graduating but also being able to take the first steps to success. We survived the years of assignments that were “due tomorrow,” endless discussion posts, or even days where the bed was so warm and cozy that you hit snooze for five more minutes, but as an independent adult, you had to wake up and get ready for school.

Like those minor but hard challenges, life is full of difficult situations we must overcome daily. That has been the reality for me since I could remember. My life has been a journey filled with ups and downs.

I grew up in a lower-income household with my single mom and two brothers. My mom worked long hours on the night shift as a hotel administrator to support us and make sure we could get an education.

As I was growing up, I discovered nursing, and I studied two years back in Peru and realized that it was my calling. Also, during this time, I started to play beach tennis, a sport many of you may not be familiar with, but I played in many tournaments and even represented my country alongside my brother.

I was achieving all my dreams, surrounded by my family, and doing what I loved. But as we all know, nothing good lasts forever. Unfortunately, right at the start of the pandemic, my mom was diagnosed with cancer.

My brother and I put everything on hold. We started working full-time and dedicated our time to take care of her. Those were some of the hardest times of my life, but I look back on them with a smile because we faced all these obstacles together and became stronger as a family.

As time passed, my mom got better, and I found an opportunity to come to Elgin Community College (ECC) as an international student. I hoped that I would achieve my dream of becoming a nurse with a little bit of hard work and luck. I applied, and after a long process, I was accepted. The first time I arrived at ECC, I was nervous and full of questions. As time passed, I got to meet more international students like me, and then, with their support, we revived a club called United Students of All Cultures. The club became a place where people from all backgrounds could come together and learn about different cultures. This is where I found some of my closest friends.

ECC became my second home. I spent most of my time here as a student worker and club secretary while being a full-time student. I had a full plate, and there were moments when I felt I couldn’t go on since I was far from my family, living in a foreign country with a culture and language that was completely different from my own.

Thankfully, whenever I looked over my shoulder, I saw the huge community I had built, with advisors, deans, faculty, coworkers, friends, my girlfriend, and family, always being there, asking me how I was doing and motivating me to keep working towards my goals. I’m now studying at Aurora University, where I got accepted into the nursing program, and day by day, I’m closer to achieving my dream of becoming a nurse!

Thank you to everyone who was there for me on my ECC journey! As for my story, I hope you guys feel more motivated, showing that anything is possible if you put in a little hard work and keep a positive attitude. Despite the difficult challenges that life can bring, I want to encourage you to lean on your support system, community, and family, and just like me, you can overcome life’s challenges. I never could have imagined being in my current position, with all the opportunities I have. Also, ¡Quiero agradecer a toda mi familia, amigos y en especial a mi mama que está viendo esto desde Perú! ¡Los Amo! With that being said, I want to congratulate you guys once again! Here’s to the class of 2024! Thank you!

Marco Adrianzen Ruiz, '24

Associate in Science

Lima, Peru