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Geovanny Mayorga 0:05
All right, hello everyone, and welcome once again to Midwestern Career College Campus Connections. Today, we're a new location recording at our evergreen campus. As usual. You can follow us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon music, and you can email us at podcast at MCC college study to you, and we are lucky to have as our co host today, Monica Louisa, how are you?
Monica Loayza 0:35
Monica, hi, Geo, I'm really good. How are you?
Geovanny Mayorga 0:39
I'm all right. How are you feeling? I know you were a little bit under the weather. How's that going? Yeah.
Monica Loayza 0:44
I mean, pretty feeling positive today and hoping for this new next episode. I'm excited for it.
Geovanny Mayorga 0:50
Yeah, so we had your very successful episode, and obviously you wanted to continue, and now you're a co host, so it's wonderful to have you looking forward to our conversation. Thank you for the invitation, and with us as our guest for today's episode, is Jennifer green, campus manager for evergreen. Is that correct? Is it Yes, I am the academic. Academic manager. How are you? I am wonderful. How are you today? Wonderful. Welcome and thank you for hosting us at your wonderful campus. Thank you. The Evergreen campus has pretty interesting history, because it's pretty new. We were at a different campus before, yes, we were in Blue Island. Blue Island campus. How was that?
Unknown Speaker 1:35
Blue Island was very small. It was two rooms. We had two programs. We've since moved over here into a much, much more beautiful campus, and now, instead of two programs, we have five,
Geovanny Mayorga 1:52
five programs. How was the transition from Blue Island to Evergreen Park?
Unknown Speaker 1:59
It was interesting. The transition was interesting. I kind of spearheaded, helping them move over here. And it was, it wasn't bad, but it was, it was real interesting. We were real excited when we got here.
Geovanny Mayorga 2:13
Yeah, yeah. And it shows how, obviously, as a as a college, we've grown because the Blue Island obviously, was the first location and it was pretty interesting. But I think it shows our ability to be able to grow and move into a much better space where we're at now at Evergreen Park.
Jennifer Green 2:35
Yes, yes, it does. It is very we because I started there, and Blue Island, came over here, and once we got here and started expanding the programs, and we're still looking to expand so it's it's real interesting, and I'm looking forward to expanding further and picking up more programs. You
Geovanny Mayorga 3:03
now we've been at Evergreen Park. How long now?
Jennifer Green 3:06
This is year four. We came in 2020,
Geovanny Mayorga 3:14
and it seems like we have outgrown our space.
Jennifer Green 3:18
Now we are in the midst of Yes, outgrowing. Our program has increased. The student population has increased. When we first came here, we had about maybe about 80 students that came over. We are now roughly near about 300 students here on campus. So we've tripled our size from where we were.
Geovanny Mayorga 3:43
That's awesome. And I said, I think that speaks volumes about our or your ability to manage the campus, and our abilities as a college to be able to bring in students, be in a much better space and continue to grow. Because I think we're hopefully looking at other options to increase, not only programs, but our facility space as well.
Jennifer Green 4:06
I'm looking forward to that,
Jennifer Green 4:08
definitely.
Geovanny Mayorga 4:10
Now, Jennifer, you are from Chicago, yes, and you're also from the south side, correct? Yes, we're in the south side that you
Jennifer Green 4:19
grew up in, Maple Park. Maple Park is around 100 and I grew up on 100 and 16th and Elizabeth, so it's in that area, near Pullman Park, Morgan park, but we were a community in Maple park of new homeowners that they put there.
Geovanny Mayorga 4:37
So yeah, how has that worked out?
Jennifer Green 4:40
It's wonderful. It's wonderful. We are actually the community still has some of the founding members in the community, all of our parents, who are there. And then what happens is, once the parents, they leave us, then the children stay in their homes. So it's still a close knit community that we still have there.
Geovanny Mayorga 5:00
And how has the community changed since that started
Jennifer Green 5:04
changing, I won't say it's been all good. There has been some different elements that are there, yeah, but for the most part, the change hasn't it hasn't changed much. It's still a community. It's still a family community. Just like next week, we have a block club party, and the whole entire community, even people that have moved away, are coming back, so we still have that close relationship with everybody, nice. What high school did you go to? I went to St will abroad. It's in Roseland. How was that? I loved it. I loved it. I still have my friends from I'm not gonna I'm not gonna age myself, but I actually still have the same friends that I had when I went to high school, and it was very small Catholic school, so yet again, a close knit family.
Geovanny Mayorga 5:54
Yeah, I was the proud product of Chicago Public Schools. I'm sorry. I was lucky enough to go to shurs High School, northwest side, Milwaukee and Addison. Okay. And, you know, it's funny, because I just had this conversation with my family, because I have, you know, my daughter's getting it's actually started high school a couple days ago. My niece also started high school. So my niece and my daughter are the same age, and we have another one, my cousin's daughter, who's a senior, so we're talking about high school and experiences. And I said when I went to high school, I was exposed to drugs, gangs, poor education and and I said, you know, don't take that for granted, that you know, you know your parents and myself, I was talking to my family, had to go through this to provide you with a better opportunity, because now they're going my nieces go into Evanston Township High School. My daughter's going to friend high school out in Palatine. So I'm like, nobody drove me to school. Nobody, you know, no bus took me to school. No school. Bus took me to school. I mean, I had to take public transportation, CTA to get to school. So I'm like, don't take that for granted, that times have changed. You have different opportunities. And one of my cousin's daughter could potentially go to shares, and obviously they don't want to. I think she wants to go there because some of her friends want to go there. We're like, maybe you should think about because, like you said, Things haven't changed much. CPS, as much as they want to get better, it really hasn't changed. So it's it sends me, and I do have family who work within CPS, so I get the insight as to what's going on with CPS, and it sends me that we're in a very large city with a lot of funds and education just cannot seem to improve. Public education, that is, cannot seem to improve so and obviously, that's the topic now with standardized testing. Yeah, that is a little crazy
Jennifer Green 8:17
topic. Yeah, that school system it's I'm battling that myself now, because I have to, because we live in a district. We have district schools that we have to go to, so his high school that will remain unnamed, that we have to go to, I don't want to send them there, but then you have to look at what's your alternative, and that that's the only thing that concerns me. Just like the seventh and eighth grade, he had to, I had concerns about that, but I'm okay. I got okay with it. Once he got in there, I was like, okay, it's okay. I said, Maybe I might feel that way about the high school, because he's in he's 13. He is in eighth grade, so everything we look for now is geared towards high school, yeah. So it's either put him in a a school outside a district, in a charter school, or stay within district. So big decisions, make decisions families like, move to Texas. No, no, I'm not moving.
Geovanny Mayorga 9:29
I mean, there, there are opportunities. Obviously, you have to make the most out of what's given to you, but it is a challenge, right? So anyway, one of the interesting things about that I felt about your story is that the college you want to speak a little bit about that, which
Jennifer Green 9:47
one to a couple of them? I So Virginia, Virginia Union University. Yes, it is a HBCU that's in Richmond, Virginia. That's the very first college that I went to. And. And it was founded in 1865 and it was one of the stops. The very first building that we had was one of the stops in the Underground Railroad. So they started, and they built the school, and it's been going ever since
Geovanny Mayorga 10:16
now, HV, HBCU, right? Historically Black College and colleges and universities and explain what the Underground Railroad was.
Jennifer Green 10:25
The Underground Railroad was where slaves had a stop. So it was a slave stop when they were transporting them to freedom, and that was one of the buildings that was in the basement of the building, was one of the stops that they had there. And the building is still there. They've updated it some, but the mainly, the main building is still there. A lot of the old buildings are it's a lot of history in the buildings. There are different areas. All they do, they go in and they restore them. So majority of the buildings that we have, some are new, but there are still main structures that are there.
Geovanny Mayorga 11:03
Yeah, and I know we don't, we don't talk too much about controversial tap topics here, but it's, it's, I feel it's important. In college, I mentioned to you that in college, I did a report on Harriet Tubman, who was obviously underground, underground railroad. And it's important for people to to really know that history. I mean, I don't know why there's anything wrong with
Jennifer Green 11:23
that. History is important. It is very important to know and understand where, where things start, where things happen, and to know because people can hide history. But you kind of kind of know history and know different pieces of it, because it's, it's, it's important for us to know it, you know, it's important for us to know how things started, where they came from. That's why I was proud that I went to the school. I was like, yeah, absolutely okay. And I go back every year. I'm looking forward to it too much. I want my way back.
Geovanny Mayorga 11:56
What did you study there? Or start studying there?
Jennifer Green 11:58
I started studying business administration. So when I first came out, I know you go, you're a teacher, yeah, this wasn't my road. This wasn't the journey that I was taking originally. Business was my journey. And I said, Okay, I like business. I like math a little bit. So let's go into that. And that's where I started there.
Jennifer Green 12:21
Wow, how I'm shocked, because, you know we know each other from work, yes, first of all, I didn't know you have a son. And second of all, I totally agree with you that you need to know your history, and I believe all that background that you have created, you're able now to project and tell that to your students. Makes me really connected with that feeling, because at the end of the day, we become that person who is going to teach them. And I've had a different start to in business as well before psychology. But our path kind of like similar in that way, even though I come from a different country, a different culture,
Geovanny Mayorga 13:12
you started in business and what happened?
Jennifer Green 13:17
Well, I stayed in business, I came home. I didn't finish there, so it's a, you know, University for a year. I came home after two years, and when I came home, I said, Well, I one thing, you know, when you let when you leave, you'll say, I'm leaving my parents house and I'm never coming back. I'm 18. Who knows? You know, I had to go back. I went back for one year, and I said, You know what time for me to get it together? My mom said, Come work, because she worked at the University of Chicago. She said, I got a job for you. I said, Okay, mom, okay, I see you. I started pushing a little cart around the University of Chicago, and that started a medical career for me. And I was like, Oh, I kind of like medicine. So I went from there to pushing this little card around the hospital, wiping down equipment, to being a unit secretary, working multiple jobs there. Once I got in there, I said, Hmm, I want to take this a little further. I became an EMT. So that started my lifelong journey being in medicine, and, oh, from there, it's a whole bunch of stuff.
Geovanny Mayorga 14:28
And I think that's important for students to understand that not, it's not always, you know, a straight line to where you want to you want to get to. I, you know, I myself, started at UIC because I wanted to be a computer engineer, and I took a lot of, you know, math, science, computer work, and then realized that that's not what I wanted to do. Well, not only that, but I think, much like you, life happens and when you're not ready, because I was not ready for college, the. Freedom that I, I I dropped out because of grades. No, I didn't drop out. I was kicked out, and I went to Oakton Community College, I think I talked about in a different episode. And that's really where I found myself, you know, what do I want to do? Where do I you know, what I want to take this and that's how I, you know, it took me longer to get my degree. I think by the time I finished my bachelor's, I had already five or six years of education. So, yeah, I mean, I have enough education to be a doctor, and I, you know, and I don't have a doctorate degree, not yet anyway. So I think it's important for students to understand that, that there's, it's, it's not a straight line, it's not easy. And you know, you have us as examples. You know, Monica, you started in something different, and then you came to the United States, and you started doing something different, right? You started. You were doing student work first. Did you start as student work or just start straight away as well?
Jennifer Green 16:08
Here, I did start as an administrative assistant, but I want to highlight how you mentioned. We have different starts and for our students, definitely, we need to, they need to they need to understand that sometimes they have this idea of, like, all my time I'm already getting like old or like, I'm not getting my grades and things like that. And I think the system pressured us a little bit on that. It is true, but I think each individual has their own journey. And I think that's the main highlight of all this. I definitely understand the backgrounds of you know, we have different education, but there's always a point where we want to be that, that person who it's proud of what all the experiences we've had. So definitely a self journey. We we need to be proud and respect our times too. Doesn't matter. No need to compare to others either.
Geovanny Mayorga 17:08
And I think that's what makes institutions like ours so important, because not everyone is cut out to be in a four year institution, correct, whether it's financial or grades or whatever it is, just program wise, these type of institutions, our institution caters to that talk a little bit about the programs that we have here that make a difference for students,
Jennifer Green 17:32
the programs. And as you said, just to piggyback with that, me to tell my story is I was and I love these programs because they're tailored to meet anybody's need at any given time in their journey. Because I went to college straight out of high school, but as you said, I came home two years later. I didn't get my bachelor's till I was in my 40s. I didn't get my Master's until I was late in my 40s, closer to after that. Heck, I didn't have my first kid till I was 42 so I tell everybody, it's never too late and you're never too old to get into our programs and the medical field. We have medical assistance. It's never too late to start a journey. I've interviewed a lot of students who and they tell me where I'm more seasoned. And I said, I understand, you know, and yes, you will be a mixture of people. You have coming out of high school. You have people who are deciding, later in life, I want a new journey, right? So we have a lot of students that are like that, that are doing later journeys. So we have medical assistants that are done, that we have dialysis. Well, we did have dialysis. We no longer have that program, but we have dental, the dental technician program. It is a it's a diversity that's in there. You have different ranges, different ages. Here we have surge tech and sterile processing. So you have a lot of different people from all walks of life coming in at different times in their journey to do something new. So it's not just we all have high school students, because you may not want to do high school. As you said, you got kicked out of school. Yeah, I didn't mention I did, but I left before I got kicked out because I could not make it to the eight o'clock class. So I'm like, No, that's not for me. No, right? So I said, let me just go home and I'll be okay. And I miss my mommy, you know? So it was later I started working, and I was working. Then I said, I need education, and I need to go into a program that will suit my educational needs. So I'm like, Okay, I'll do this medical assistant. I became a medical assistant. I became a whole bunch of different things after that, but this field, in our programs, allow for students at any walk of life to come in and. Get that fresh start. You know, it doesn't four year universities is a long time. And as we say, we're here for a short time, not a long time. So it works for them, and it works for the program, and they have choices.
Jennifer Green 20:16
I like that a lot. I like that a lot. Definitely, it's like a new start. Not doesn't matter what happened in the past, but you always have a new start and opportunity. And I agree with you, MCC, tailor the program in a way that I've seen that, you know, transition of our students, different ages, different backgrounds, histories, but they all, they all have the same reason. They want to be better, they want to have a career, they want to have that passion, and that's what we transmit with them, to them, yeah.
Geovanny Mayorga 20:48
I mean, we all go through our time where we have to find ourselves, you know, and explore what it is that's going to work for us. I mean, I, you know, I talked to my parents all the time that I've done so many jobs, and I've done I've had so many experiences that I can really go anywhere you have similar experiences because you've done a little bit of everything, including taxes, which you still do, right?
Jennifer Green 21:14
Yes, I'm a tax consultant also, yes, yes, and that, I've been doing it consistently ever since I went into medicine. I started in 89 doing taxes, yeah, and I'm still doing it. I started medicine in 89 and I've been going ever since, with both of them. I always say, you know, my favorite saying, I could save your life and make your money at the same
Geovanny Mayorga 21:37
There you go. It's perfect. You should trademark that. So, you know, we all have experiences that we can bring to the table at any point. I started like you when I was in college, I was working, I think it was Mount Sinai Hospital in the pharmacy. You know, like, like, you pushing, pushing a car, delivering IVs to the different departments. That's what I did in college. You know, I think you went to, you studied at National Louis, correct? Yes, I got my bachelor's at National Louis. I worked five years at National Louis. We may have crossed paths, maybe, yeah, yeah, yeah, I've been all over the place. So anyway, what are some of the other What is your message to students who want to look into medical? You know, because you didn't necessarily start into medical, you just happen to run into medical. What? What would be a message for the students to to bring them to our programs,
Jennifer Green 22:46
to our programs, to come here. Our programs give you and encourage you to have a sense of belonging and a sense of accomplishment within our programs. We because we're not a big university that has 50 students in each class, and you're just a number in that class. We are more hands on with a student. We when I interview a student, I tell them, you're coming to my campus, and I'm taking responsibility for you. And I'd like to kid with them and joke and say, I'm taking ownership of you. I am taking ownership in your career, because you're going to invest your time with me. So I have to invest my time with you. You're wanting, you have expressed that you want a career, so I have to make sure we, here at MCC do everything within our power to make sure you get that career, even if it means stalking you and going, Hey, why are you not here? Hey, why are you not doing your homework? Hey, if you need to cry, come on, I got an open door for you. So especially with my campus, and I say mine, and I love it. I could take ownership of evergreen Park. I always tell them, You are mine. From the moment you come in, till you leave, I am going to make sure that you accomplish your goal. You know, I have students who one student in particular, she came in, she was like, Miss green. You know, I've never, I've taken a program three times, and I've never finished the program. And I said, Oh. I said, Okay, I got you, you know, I got you. You're gonna finish this program. She was like, Okay, I'm gonna trust you. I said, trust me. You're gonna finish several months into the program. She had a death in the family, and she just came to me and she said, Miss green, I'm done. I can't do this no more. I said, Nah, you're not done. I said, take a moment, get yourself in order. I said, I'll see you next week. And she's like, Nah, Miss green. I said, Okay, two weeks. I'll see you in two weeks. She was like, Okay. I called her every day. I said, how we doing? She was like, Okay. She came back. And I was so proud. She walked across that stage and she said, and she told her family, she's like, this. Right here, just that lady that got me across the stage without her, I never would have made it, and I felt good with that, and that's why I teach and do what I do, and that's what you get when you come to MCC somebody that cares. And a lot of people don't have that structure at home, they don't have a support system, so we, here at MCC become their support system and help them to achieve what they need. So I think that's what makes us different than a lot of paces, because we invest ourselves into them.
Jennifer Green 25:35
You're so right. I like that our students have so many stories to tell. And I remember when you talk about this particular student, I want to ask you, what was that first feeling of meeting them in graduation, too, and then you see her. You saw her getting the certificate, and then you remember all her journey, what was the first feeling you as as a mom? Let's call it that way, in that moment that you play that role for her
Jennifer Green 26:03
as a mother. These are all my babies. These are all my babies. Because, like I said, I invest in them. I see them more than they family do sometimes. So I invest time with them, and it felt so good and see it's very it's a it's a good that's why I do what I do, because I feel good when I see people out there, and then it feels better when you have a student that you ain't seen in years yelling, Hey, Miss green. Hey. And I'm like, okay, who's that? She was like, I know you. You were my teacher. Oh, hey. And I see my students, and they're in their careers, and they're doing stuff, and I go, I had something to do with that, yeah, yeah, you are positive in your life, and I made a positive impact on you. So I think that's what even being a teacher is. And that good feeling you get is being that positive impact to somebody, yeah, makes you feel good. Yeah.
Geovanny Mayorga 27:01
And I've, I've spoken about the differences of being in a large college, large university, versus a smaller one, and I got to say, based on my experiences, because I've been, you know, very huge in versus UIC, and I don't have positive experiences from UIC, my all my the professors that I remember, they're all negative experiences, so and that's probably one of the reasons why I flunked when I went to a smaller institution, and I remember all my instructors, it was way different, right? And I've spoken a little bit about how when you get to a smaller institution, you get that one on one treatment, the resources are a little bit more available to you because it's smaller and everybody knows what's going on, versus an institution that has 50, 60,000 students, where you kind of just have to fend for yourself and figure it out. And this is something that we talked about Monica with the episode that we did that you know, part of people coming here is that they get a one on one experience with career services, like what you do and will you go through your resources with them? A little bit more one on one.
Jennifer Green 28:22
Yeah, that's true, and I, I definitely agree with you, and everything is a structure, in a way, with this personalized service, and, you know, help and resources that we provide, we are preparing the future professionals, which is pretty much my job. So I want to make sure those future professionals feel the support, have the extra support if they're struggling challenges come, they're also going to show that in their careers and their workplace. So I believe our job, it's our responsibility, to provide information academically, but also that professionalism, skills, and, you know, motivate them, because we can teach a lot of academics, but we cannot teach attitude, right? And that's the role of a teacher, that's the role of a counselor, that's the role of a staff person member at MCC, we need to understand that in the way we connect with them, it would reflect the future professional in the long run, and it speaks of the quality of professionals we're providing and we're forming. So, as you mentioned, in big colleges, big universities, you become a number you probably receive, yeah, good academic profession, but it's always in this mold, details and the personal orientation information that you're going to highlight, especially in professional life
Geovanny Mayorga 29:55
as well. Yeah, and you spoke about, and I've said it. As well. And again, I'll say it again. This is the reason why we do these, this podcast, because it's about getting to know not only the student and the student experience, but the people that make MCC you know, function on a daily basis. And that's a lot of the instructors, managers, program directors. And again, it speaks volumes to the the type of professional that it's at MCC So speaking of that, how did you get to MCC?
Jennifer Green 30:30
How did I get to MCC? Dr, mirror I came from. Dr meer does which program. Dr meer is our lead instructor in the medical assistant program. Assistant Program, and he's at the LaSalle campus, right? And I have worked with Dr meer at other institutions, and he called me. He said, Miss green, I need you. I said, Oh, he was and it was also someone else who worked with us also Maria. I can't remember Maria's name, but Maria, both of them started calling me, and I'm like, Okay, we have a school over here, and we need you to come on over here and teach with us. And I said, Oh, okay, I came in, I interviewed, and I was like, oh, and it was right around the corner from my house, so it was perfect. I was like, Okay. And he was Dr mirror. Was funny because he was trying to get me down at La Salle. And I said, I don't think I want to go down there to different Yes, it's a big difference going for an environment. Yeah, I worked at Westwood, and Westwood is where I was with Dr mirror, and I don't like going downtown, really. And he said, Well, we have a campus on the south side. And I said, Oh, okay, and it's history. From there, I'm still here.
Geovanny Mayorga 31:47
Yeah, nice, yeah. How long have you been? How long has that been? I came in 2017
Jennifer Green 31:56
a lifetime, for sure. Yes,
Geovanny Mayorga 31:57
yeah, it was 2017 and what does the future hold for MCC programs at Evergreen Park
Jennifer Green 32:06
the future? What would I like to see? Sure? Why not. I would like to see us move into our own building that can house about 20 different programs I have in my head, I have about four programs already now, and if we can get because here we're here and we're comfortable, you know, but for growth of MCC move into a big, beautiful building. Have 20 more programs. Increase my student population. I have about a good, maybe about 1000 to 1500 students on campus, not too big, because then if we go too big, then we lose that hands on, and we lose that intimate setting in the classrooms. So just adding more programs, to add more student population to those programs,
Geovanny Mayorga 32:59
nice and to finish up, we'll speak a little bit about you. Now you have a son, yes, who plays baseball. Yes, he's a you're into that quite a bit. Now, the baseball
Jennifer Green 33:12
I am. I'm that mother,
Geovanny Mayorga 33:15
just like a soccer, hockey mom,
Jennifer Green 33:17
yes, I am the baseball Mom, it's so much so that I'm into baseball, that I'm the secretary of the league. I am one of the Executive Board members in the league, so I invested a lot of my time into where he is so I can make sure he has a positive outcome.
Geovanny Mayorga 33:34
So yeah, how do you guys participate in Little League? Or, yeah, yes, that's going on now. Now, literally,
Jennifer Green 33:41
we are in Dalton Riverdale Little League, and we're year round. We just finished normal season. We're about to head into fall ball, and then we have winter camp, and then it starts all over again, and it just keeps going.
Geovanny Mayorga 33:55
I have one of my cousins who is really involved in that as well, with his with his son, and they do, I think he does travel baseball and all that stuff.
Jennifer Green 34:04
Yes, we're going to get into travel ball next. And, yeah,
Geovanny Mayorga 34:09
Little League World Series. Do you guys participate in that? How does that work?
Jennifer Green 34:13
We didn't see everything is zoned, and they stay in zones. We go to tournaments, but we haven't been a part of that tournament, because the biggest ones you have Babe Ruth, and then you have Jackie Robinson out this way. So we're in Little League International, so we do tournaments, but we're all serious things. We haven't gone to those.
Jennifer Green 34:35
Yeah, wow, you have a lot of in your agenda. How do you keep that balance?
Jennifer Green 34:41
Same thing I teach my students priority. You got to prioritize. You have to keep a calendar, and you have to make sure, I think just wave your hands. You may have to walk over there. There we go. All right, I was about to say, Oh, what was I telling the story about?
Geovanny Mayorga 34:59
I. Our visitors here, I know, right?
Jennifer Green 35:05
You have to pray, you have to keep an agenda, you have to make sure you set everything. And I live by time frames, and I do and I'm very I'm not gonna say I'm strict, because I'm the worst procrastinator ever. I am the worst procrastinator. But you have to have a plan. You have to plan it. You have to work it. I guess that's why all my friends make me the planners. And I plan vacations. I plan whatever we're doing. Everybody wants me to plan it because they know I'm going to plan it to a T. This is what we have to do. Here's our time frame. We got to be here. Here. This is where I'm at. It's you have to, you gotta. That's the only way I can make sure I do everything. Oh, it's a whole bunch more after this. Yeah, yeah, that's just the tip of what I do, right? Yeah? Because I have a daughter now I do? I have a bonus daughter? Yes, I, I was, I was previously married, but I'm single now. And out of that marriage, I got a bonus daughter, and I have three bonus granddaughters. Oh, wow, yes, yes. And I love them. I, I kept her. I said she's mine. All of them are mine, my daughter, she's, I don't know how she is. I think she's about 27
Geovanny Mayorga 36:24
I think, Oh, great.
Jennifer Green 36:27
Those the love Yes, and my granddaughters are 1210, and I think one is nine. I don't know they're getting old. I can't remember, but yes, I have, I keep them all. I have a very big extended family
Jennifer Green 36:44
that's awesome. I'm sure they're really proud of you, because when you talk, you sound so passionate and so like completing your role. And I do want to know, and I mean, when I come here, you can feel that it's a way that you project and it's the way you just handle your students and the campus and everything. So it's always a welcoming vibe and a very nice ambience to be here. So I'm definitely that also shows in your personal life.
Jennifer Green 37:18
Thank you. Yes, it's I can say I am a product of my mother and father. My mother and father were known to take in everybody, to welcome everybody. And I can honestly say I did take that. I did take it from them. Do for everybody, welcome everybody. But hey, it being sad and just down. It doesn't work. It don't work. I agree with that wonderful.
Geovanny Mayorga 37:44
So as we wrap up, any final thoughts, words you like to say, offer
Jennifer Green 37:51
final words and final thoughts. If you're out there listening and you want a career, not just a job, but you want a career, and you want to be trained in that career. MCC is the place where you will get it. We will make sure that you get all that you need and to go out there and get that new career, or to further your career, um, come to Evergreen Park campus.
Jennifer Green 38:20
No, wait. Wait for you, right?
Jennifer Green 38:25
You could go to the other campuses, but evergreen Park, yeah, I love my campus. We have ice cream socials. We have party I always tell my students, I like to party as hard as you work. If you work hard for me, I'm going to make sure you enjoy waking up that morning and going, I'm going to school? Yeah, I don't want you saying, oh, man, I gotta go to class. I want you to enjoy it. You know, you have to enjoy what you do.
Geovanny Mayorga 38:50
Well, that's exactly your point about going to somewhere where you you're going to be comfortable with and I just go back to when, you know, when I decided to finish my degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, which is a smaller campus from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. It just made that difference to me, and I was able to finish right away. I liked it. I like my instructors to program very fond memories of where I went. And whereas UIC is just this black hole that it's always going to be there, it was just part of my experience. But yeah, anything, anything you like to say before we end Sure?
Jennifer Green 39:27
I mean happy to always talking new with this new experiences, and get to know our co workers at MCC as well, welcoming the new students. And if you're out there, for sure, remember, we are here for you to support you shift up your career and become that leader, also that you would see, improving your life and your family and making a big impact in others. So thank you for inviting me.
Geovanny Mayorga 39:55
It was it's been a great conversation. Thank you for taking the time to. Invite us to evergreen and to tell your story, which is a wonderful story about who you are, what you've achieved, what you do here at Midwestern Career College evergreen campus. So I think listeners will enjoy your story. So as we wrap up, like to thank our co host Monica for being here and Jennifer green for being the special guest for today, like to remind everyone to be on the lookout for the video on YouTube and the audio files on Spotify, Amazon music and Apple Music. And if you have any comments, you can also comment on those sites, or you can email us at podcast at MCC college.edu, thank you, and we'll talk to you next time. Thank you. Jennifer and Monica, thank you.
