Geovanny Mayorga  0:07  
Welcome to Campus Connections, a podcast dedicated to connecting with one another. We will highlight MCC staff, students, alumni and other guests, and talk about our professional and life experiences. You can find us on Spotify and YouTube and you may contact us by writing in the comments section or writing to us at podcast@mccollege.edu. We would love to hear your positive feedback and your thoughts on any future topics you would like to hear. I am your host Giovanni Mayorga. And we are recording from the beautiful 203 North LaSalle campus in downtown Chicago on the 14th floor with a great view of the East Side skyline.
Geovanny Mayorga  0:47  
Our podcast will focus on Midwestern Career College and who comprises this academic institution as individuals and professionals. Our guests will be MCC staff, faculty, and we will also invite people who help MCC function on a daily basis. One of the focuses of this podcast is to get to know each other and to acknowledge our individual achievements. And in doing that, I'd like to acknowledge all the hard work and dedication of my friends and colleagues here at MCC, those that are here and those that have moved on to pursue other opportunities. 
Geovanny Mayorga  1:23  
I am fortunate to be in my fifth academic institution, and have the experience to know that there's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes on a daily basis that goes unnoticed as we provide a service to you. I like to recognize the hard work that each and every one of the staff and administrators do on a daily basis to provide a service to our students and alumni. Likewise, our education in general wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for the dedicated work of our educators. Please take time to think not only your wonderful educators, but all educators, as being an educator is a calling, and the reason why we say we have an academic education. As a former certified teacher, I know firsthand how difficult of a job it is. I have a couple of family members in the elementary school systems and can say with confidence that educators are dedicated, passionate, angry people. With that I'm bringing in my first guest for today, Jessica Karim. So, Jessica, welcome to the podcast. Thanks for being here. How are you? 
Jessica Karim  2:38  
Oh, I'm fine. Thank you. How are you?
Geovanny Mayorga  2:40  
Wonderful. It's been a long day, but happy that we can actually sit down and have a conversation about who you are and what you do and what you've done. So, welcome! Looking forward to to speak with you today.
Jessica Karim  2:52  
I'm happy to be here. Thank you.
Geovanny Mayorga  2:53  
So tell me a little bit about what you do currently, because you're an MCC staff, as a staff member and a student. So tell me about what you do here at MCC.
Jessica Karim  3:03  
So, right now I'm working in the social, in the International Department as a social media creator and I creating videos with my co workers. And we always try to get the students everything to know about Chicago. And of course about MCC, and also for students who still living abroad and thinking about studying in United States, learning English. Get some next career steps and goals and we are creating content for it to see how it is as a student, as an international student to living in Chicago.
Geovanny Mayorga  3:49  
Nice. Sounds wonderful. You're studying? What is it that you're studying here?
Jessica Karim  3:55  
I'm right now in the Business program. I made all of the ESL programs when I came here to learn the language. And now I'm in an associates program to start working when I finished.
Geovanny Mayorga  4:10  
So you made the decision to come not only to Midwestern Career College, but to Chicago. 
Jessica Karim  4:16  
Yes. 
Geovanny Mayorga  4:16  
Where is it that you're from? 
Jessica Karim  4:18  
I'm from Germany.
Geovanny Mayorga  4:20  
And where exactly in Germany are you from?
Jessica Karim  4:23  
I'm from a little town. But before I moved to the United States, I lived in Berlin for a couple of years and Frankfurt. And yeah, before I came, I lived in Berlin. My definitely favorite city in Germany.
Geovanny Mayorga  4:38  
So you grew up in Germany? 
Jessica Karim  4:40  
Yes. 
Geovanny Mayorga  4:41  
How was that? How do you remember that as a memory?
Jessica Karim  4:45  
Oh, it's it's, it's totally different than here I would say. But I think for me it was it's great. I mean, when you're a child, you're not recognized for this as your world and I like to live to Germany. And when you grow up there, you learn a lot about discipline a lot about Willie good, we have a great education system in Germany. And when you're a good student, you can have a good education and university. So it was really good. And also, I have to mention, because I'm from Germany, and I studied there before. It's a nice if you have a diploma from there, it's you can work all over the world. So this is, this is great.
Geovanny Mayorga  5:39  
Yeah, yeah. I was born here in Chicago, but but it was actually raised. outside of the US, I was raised in Guatemala City in Central America. And seen how because I have two kids, seeing how my kids are the youth here in the US are growing up today. And how I grew up is completely different. And I used to play in the streets. If you see some of those documentaries of kids playing soccer, we call it football. In our countries, that's how I grew up, I grew up playing in the streets, it's playing soccer, it's a completely different time than then what it is now. I actually also studied for three, three years in Guatemala. And the school system was actually very different than then what it is here in the US. How was your experience, going to school in Germany, and now being being a student here in the US?
Jessica Karim  6:45  
So I, for me, it is totally different in Germany, especially when you are in the university, you have to do everything on your own. Because studying in Germany, it's not asking your teacher is I mean, of course, four important things when you make your master thesis, thesis and so on. But in general, you are on your own because they want to see how you work by yourself and how you research and scientific questions. So this is totally different. Of course, the teachers also helpful and the professors. But it's, it's different, because you're on your own. And for them, it's really important because this is the thing that you in the end of the day, get jobs with more salary, because they know you can work independently. And in a team for sure. But when you're doing research in a university, it's my experience here is kind of different. But I'm thankful that I have this kind of both experience because you hear a lot the people talking, oh, it's like this to live in this country or this but in the end, just the experience just when you live to live in another country, then you know how it really works.
Geovanny Mayorga  8:05  
And what after you finished your studies, what, what was your, what are your degrees in?
Jessica Karim  8:12  
I had a, I have a Bachelor in journalism. And um, have a master degree in media science. So like a Media Creator. I choose this topic because I think you can work all over the world with this kind of, of knowledge. And also for companies before I moved here, I worked for a company and made, not as a journalist, I worked on the PR, so I create website, the website and a lot of um, so everything what goes with what, what they want to know from the company. And I started actually there to also work with English speaking coworkers. And that helps me because in the in the beginning, I was really nervous to speak another language, especially on the phone. It was it was kind of weird, but it helps me when I came here.
Geovanny Mayorga  9:15  
So you started communicating in English with clients in the US, is that correct? Yes. Okay, and then how? How did you make the decision to say, Okay, I've been communicating in English. I have a life in Germany. But I want to make a transition to the US. How was that decision?
Jessica Karim  9:41  
Yeah, for me, actually, it was a decision, a decision a long time ago, because when I came to first time to the US, it's more than 10 years ago, just as a vacation. I decided to want to live here, to live in another country to get another experience. Um, even when it's great to live in Germany and you can have a good job, great economy, I want to live in a different country. And I decided the United States is just something from my, from my feelings when I came here that I want to try to live here.
Geovanny Mayorga  10:20  
And, what city did you visit when you came here?
Jessica Karim  10:23  
The first I was in New York City. And I really, I really loved it. And when I made the decision to come here, I was looking for which city would be great. And I also saw a lot about Chicago. I read a lot about Chicago. And when I came here, it was when I moved here and never went here before it was the day when I moved here. I also fell in love with Chicago because the river the lake, it's so it's just amazing. Just the vibe here it's, it's great. So I decided to stay in Chicago.
Geovanny Mayorga  11:01  
Yeah. And now you work right by the river and right by the lake, downtown Chicago. Yes. It's very interesting story. I mean, I, obviously I I was born here. And outside of the time that I grew up outside of the US. I've I've lived in Chicago all my life. Well, I have I have lived in other states, Indiana, Colorado, and I visited many other cities and states as well. But I remember the time I visited, I did visit New York. In my teenage years, we have family and we have family friends over there. So I've been to New York a few times now. And New York is a great city. Okay. Very diverse, huge. Lots of entertainment. You can find everything in anything in New York. But I will say that I will always choose Chicago, even though I've had the opportunity to live in Colorado, in Colorado Springs, love the absolutely the outdoors and the mountains. I always miss Chicago and Chicago is always going to be home. And it's always interesting to hear somebody else's point of view. New York is great. And just like Chicago is great. And Chicago has its negative portion of what what goes on in Chicago, so does New York. Nevertheless, I think I will still choose Chicago over New York couple of few years ago, I thought about actually moving to New York, if I were able to find a job and it didn't work out. So maybe in the end, I think I'm much happier here in Chicago. So now you've been in Chicago for how long? Four years? 
Jessica Karim  12:52  
Exactly.
Geovanny Mayorga  12:54  
Four years? And how has that experience been?
Jessica Karim  12:57  
Oh, great. So I, I never regret to come to Chicago. Like I said before, it was when I moved here. It was the moment when I moved here that I came here because I know a lot of people they visit before have some vacation before they move to another city. But I just did it. And for me until now. It's it's a great experience. So I met a lot of people from all over the world. Of course, the big impact is that I start studying at MCC and learn the language. And so you meet a lot of people from around the world. And I learned English and I also think that the people in Chicago have more. They give you a little bit more time when you start learning the language. They are I mean, it's usually in the United States is like they're really open and even when you talk totally wrong because you learn they are welcome you with open arms. So this is what I what I think it was my experience.
Geovanny Mayorga  14:15  
So you came to Midwestern Career College as an international student to study English as second language. How was that experience? And how would you describe that experience to someone because you do a lot of that right now in social media, trying to captivate for someone and what that experience is like what our experience is like? How would you describe that experience to someone who's potentially thinking about moving to Chicago in general or coming to MCC?
Jessica Karim  14:45  
So, I always would recommend it. And I'm not saying it because I did it by myself. It's just I have the experience with MCC when I came because I started learning English. I had a little bit I mean we learned some English and Germany matters. It's different when you live in the United States or you live in the country with another language, you start learning when you move there, this is the moment when you start. And my teachers always were really supportive, even when you say something wrong, because in the beginning, I remember I was like, oh my god, I cannot understand them, maybe, or hopefully I will understand, but they are so supportive. And even outside of the classroom, if you have some questions, they are really supportive and engage you and encourage you to, to keep keep learning. 
Jessica Karim  15:41  
And this is what I tell the students now, because some also are shy for sure, when they learn a new language, or they're thinking of making mistakes. And they said, it's, it's a process, you have to make mistakes. The thing is, you have to practice all the time, you're not only in school, in school, you get the basic you start, you get an international community environment, where you belong to because you're an international student. And you should use it, you should not just stay with the people who speak your native language, because this is not the way how you learn, you learn when you be with your international friends, when you go to the museum and Chicago or to boat tour or whatever. This is the places where you learn English, and then you will see because sometimes it's like, up and down. This is how you learn the language. But at the end of the day, you will see yourself and say, oh my god, I did this, I learned the language. 
Jessica Karim  16:47  
And this is what I can say when people ask me, even when they asked me from Germany, is it good to do this? It's good to study there, it's good to move there. And I say, if you want to do it, yes, it is good. But of course you need you have to you have to be also strength to do it. Because it's not easy to move to another country.
Geovanny Mayorga  17:12  
And that's an important point. Because everybody has to realize that it's not just, I'm gonna move there, everything's gonna be sweet. There are challenges. And we all have different challenges that we have to face. And I know for you, you have, you know, a son as well correct. And you move here with with your son, how was that like?
Jessica Karim  17:37  
Yes, I moved here with him. He, when I moved here, he was five years old. He actually never went to a school in Germany, he just went to the kindergarten because our system is different. But he is like, in the beginning, he was like, Oh, I cannot understand the kids on the playground. But and I told him, just listen to them, you will understand. And it works is like he is now in school here for three years. So he starts his fourth grade with a fourth grade in two weeks. And he is totally happy for him. It's probably kind of adventure. But for him now. His whole life. He lived in Germany and the other half here. So he is pretty young. And even when we talk at home German because I think it's important that he learned because it's such a hard language to learn. He is totally happy. And for him. It's like when he realized that we moved in the beginning he thought he will lost his friends back in Germany. And I said no, you're not losing someone, you get new friends. And this is how it is. And he, it's a big thing. Because I know that my family sometimes said why are you doing this? Because when you move to another country and it's hard for the child, I said no. Because for him at the end of the day, it will be really good for him that he has an experience to live in different countries, and nobody can ever take it away from him.
Geovanny Mayorga  19:23  
And so I'm assuming he's been able to adapt quite well to the US culture and to the school system. Yeah, I have two kids. One is going to eighth grade one is going to sixth grade. And I was actually with them yesterday. And I I grew up playing soccer as I mentioned and my kids are into it as well. And we're playing yesterday and I like to teach someone how to play properly or at least how I learned as opposed to a lot of times and this is my personal opinion it has to, a lot of times unfortunately, coaches don't teach the correct techniques as far as how I see it. So when I take that opportunity to teach them, my son goes yesterday, "Oh, great. Here we go, again, another history lesson on how to play soccer." It's so funny to see them grow up and to see how witty they are, and to see them develop. So, what advice would you have to someone who, who's thinking about moving and has kids? What would you tell someone about your experience?
Jessica Karim  20:39  
I think first of all, I would tell because I know that people who have kids, maybe kind of afraid to do the step because they think they do something. They take the kids from the environment from the comfort zone, but kids are really, they adapt things much more faster than adults. So for the kid is not a problem. We, the adults always have to think Oh, in my home country is like this and this, but the kids just adopt everything in a playful way. So I would say if you really want to do it, you can do it. And it's it's possible. It's like, because a lot of people for sure came here when they are 20, 25, after they went to the university and the home countries, but every life is different. And just because you are over 30 And you have kids, it not meant it's not meant to be it's too late for it. So while you don't have it's more challenging for you is challenging for everybody and but as a mother I think you think also for the future and what is good for your kid and just that the kid has this experience and visit different schools, different school systems and a different language. We should never forget this because even when you decide to go back after a couple of years, your child always will have this experience. And so as you, but also the language because the kids learning so fast, he is much more better and English than I. So he is like a native speaker. And this is really great to see. So for him, he can go there in Germany to school he can go in the US, and probably also in other countries. Because English is as worth it's really worth to learn it because you can communicate almost with everybody around the world because everybody speaks at least a little bit. English.
Geovanny Mayorga  22:10  
Right. So now you've had the opportunity to work here at MCC, you're studying, what is, what is your goal? Once you're done either with MCC to say with MCC to move on to other opportunities? What are you looking for, for the future?
Jessica Karim  22:10  
For the future, I think I would like to, to stay permanently in the US definitely. And I would like to stay with MCC. And it has to we have to see after my associates program when I make the degree and then I can work for one year and the RPT. So my goal for now is to stay here and really to work full time. And this is my, my personal and my professional goal for for now.
Geovanny Mayorga  22:10  
That's wonderful. So as we wrap up, it's been wonderful to have a conversation with you and learn a little bit about who you are and what you do here at MCC. And I know, you know, there are always challenges on a daily basis for what we do. Some of the things that you do here is also you give tours correct to prospective students or students that are starting. Is that correct?
Jessica Karim  22:10  
Yes, correct. So I had the idea that when the students come to MCC or to Chicago, it's every term, it's different. Some students already live a couple of years here or month and they change the school they decided to change, or people they just come a week ago from abroad. And I think it's a good thing to get into the community and the international community and meet the other new students. So I decided to do make a tour to a campus tour and a tour right around what's around the campus because our campuses directly in downtown Chicago. And you can see a lot and so I gave them some really important good to know points around our campus for especially for students that are totally new. And so also they can come together before the class starts. So they already know. Okay, she is new, he is new. So we come together in this new experience.
Geovanny Mayorga  22:10  
How has that been received by the students? That seems to be a positive experience for the students?
Jessica Karim  22:10  
Yes, definitely. So this is the feedback what I got that really thankful for it, that I'm doing it. Because when I talk to the student and my case, it's even when I work for MCC I'm still an international student, and for the new students, especially it's like, okay, she is a person, she is a student, a student like us. So they talk a lot and asking for advice or what they can do. And so it's really on the base that we are students, and that we can help out each other or how it is or where you can go to make your driver license or whatever. So really helpful tips for the students. So I just get positive feedback.
Geovanny Mayorga  22:10  
Wonderful. Thank you for everything you do. And thank you for sharing your experiences with me and with us and on this podcast today. I'm really looking forward to working with you for many more years to come. So as we wrap up on a thank you for taking that time. I want to thank thank everyone for listening to us today. And I hope we have been able to provide you with some helpful information. I like to thank our guests again for being here. And don't forget to write us at podcast@mccollege.edu and we'll look forward to talking to you next time.