Damilare R. Abdulsalam (AA ’24)
My name is Damilare R. Abdulsalam (AA ’24). I'm here to tell you about my Arrupe College experience.
- Major: AA in Social and Behavioral Sciences + BS in Nursing
- High School: Acero Cruz High School
- Involvements: 2023 Bud Billiken Parade, Fundamentals of Mathematics and Statistics Tutor, Nursing Internship at Lurie Children's Hospital, Vice President of the Black Student Union (BSU), Arrupe Continuing Leadership Scholars Program, and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society
How I chose my degree:
After high school, I planned to attend Depaul University to major in Cybersecurity, but Financial Aid had other plans for me. I had to switch to affordable tuition at Arrupe College. This was a last-minute change that also led to a change in my major to nursing. In addition, Arrupe offered a better path to acquiring a bachelor's degree with little to no debt. Sooner or later, I realized this was the best decision I have ever made in my life. I value health more than anything, and that has made me double down on my choice of wanting to be a nurse. Throughout my experiences at Arrupe, I have discovered a desire to give back to my community. And what better way to give back than to preserve and take care of the lives of people in our various communities.
My plans after graduation:
After graduating from Arrupe College, I plan to continue my education at Loyola's Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.
Professor a new student should absolutely take a class with:
I would absolutely recommend that new students take a class with Dr. Minerva Ahumada who teaches philosophy. I have had most of my enjoyable moments in class, having open-ended discussions about several political/controversial topics. Her class allows students to express their opinions respectfully while still being engaged in academic learning. Her classes are worth taking if you treasure intriguing discussions and love debates.
Class I never expected to like:
One class I didn't expect to like was Introduction to Religious Studies. My preconceived opinion about this class was that it would be regurgitating concepts I already know about being a religious person myself, hence being boring. However, this class offered much more about other religious history than I anticipated. Not only did this class touch on concepts I already knew, but it also expanded on how those notions came to be, drawing evidence from many credible sources.
Favorite spot on campus:
My favorite place on Loyola's campus as of present is the Halas Recreational Center. I love going there to work out, more specifically, play basketball. I use this as my safe space to relieve stress by getting active.
What was your favorite moment during your time at Loyola?
To be quite frank I have lots of moments to select from. However, if I had to pick one, I would forever cherish, it would be all the quality times I got to hang around my peers. I have encountered the smartest and most wonderful students from different backgrounds and beliefs at Arrupe. I can genuinely say nothing tops the times we gather and have a great time.
Some surprisingly cool things about Arrupe:
An immediate highlight is the The Market at Arrupe College. It's a food pantry that gets restocked every two weeks, and it is free for students to grab whatever they might need, from sanitary to dietary items. This is the most unique thing I have seen in post-secondary education. Another cool thing about Arrupe is the amount of resources available for the students. Students have access to a plethora of resources that could aid in every aspect of their lives, especially factors that directly or indirectly contribute to academic success. Arrupe goes above and beyond to ensure students feel comfortable asking for help and knowing where to find help.
What advice do you have for the incoming class?
Time is the most limited resource man has. Learning how to balance pivotal aspects of your life, be it your career preparations, academics, health, or financial responsibilities, is key to succeeding. Procrastination should NOT be your friend. Do not shy away from change. College is a period of transformation and growth. Be open to unexplored perspectives, ideas, and adventures while embracing setbacks along the way. Remember, no one has it all figured out. You may actually never have it all figured out, but you are writing your own story, and it's just a matter of how you want it to be told. Stay curious! Do not forget why you are here!
My name is Damilare R. Abdulsalam (AA ’24). I'm here to tell you about my Arrupe College experience.
- Major: AA in Social and Behavioral Sciences + BS in Nursing
- High School: Acero Cruz High School
- Involvements: 2023 Bud Billiken Parade, Fundamentals of Mathematics and Statistics Tutor, Nursing Internship at Lurie Children's Hospital, Vice President of the Black Student Union (BSU), Arrupe Continuing Leadership Scholars Program, and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society
How I chose my degree:
After high school, I planned to attend Depaul University to major in Cybersecurity, but Financial Aid had other plans for me. I had to switch to affordable tuition at Arrupe College. This was a last-minute change that also led to a change in my major to nursing. In addition, Arrupe offered a better path to acquiring a bachelor's degree with little to no debt. Sooner or later, I realized this was the best decision I have ever made in my life. I value health more than anything, and that has made me double down on my choice of wanting to be a nurse. Throughout my experiences at Arrupe, I have discovered a desire to give back to my community. And what better way to give back than to preserve and take care of the lives of people in our various communities.
My plans after graduation:
After graduating from Arrupe College, I plan to continue my education at Loyola's Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.
Professor a new student should absolutely take a class with:
I would absolutely recommend that new students take a class with Dr. Minerva Ahumada who teaches philosophy. I have had most of my enjoyable moments in class, having open-ended discussions about several political/controversial topics. Her class allows students to express their opinions respectfully while still being engaged in academic learning. Her classes are worth taking if you treasure intriguing discussions and love debates.
Class I never expected to like:
One class I didn't expect to like was Introduction to Religious Studies. My preconceived opinion about this class was that it would be regurgitating concepts I already know about being a religious person myself, hence being boring. However, this class offered much more about other religious history than I anticipated. Not only did this class touch on concepts I already knew, but it also expanded on how those notions came to be, drawing evidence from many credible sources.
Favorite spot on campus:
My favorite place on Loyola's campus as of present is the Halas Recreational Center. I love going there to work out, more specifically, play basketball. I use this as my safe space to relieve stress by getting active.
What was your favorite moment during your time at Loyola?
To be quite frank I have lots of moments to select from. However, if I had to pick one, I would forever cherish, it would be all the quality times I got to hang around my peers. I have encountered the smartest and most wonderful students from different backgrounds and beliefs at Arrupe. I can genuinely say nothing tops the times we gather and have a great time.
Some surprisingly cool things about Arrupe:
An immediate highlight is the The Market at Arrupe College. It's a food pantry that gets restocked every two weeks, and it is free for students to grab whatever they might need, from sanitary to dietary items. This is the most unique thing I have seen in post-secondary education. Another cool thing about Arrupe is the amount of resources available for the students. Students have access to a plethora of resources that could aid in every aspect of their lives, especially factors that directly or indirectly contribute to academic success. Arrupe goes above and beyond to ensure students feel comfortable asking for help and knowing where to find help.
What advice do you have for the incoming class?
Time is the most limited resource man has. Learning how to balance pivotal aspects of your life, be it your career preparations, academics, health, or financial responsibilities, is key to succeeding. Procrastination should NOT be your friend. Do not shy away from change. College is a period of transformation and growth. Be open to unexplored perspectives, ideas, and adventures while embracing setbacks along the way. Remember, no one has it all figured out. You may actually never have it all figured out, but you are writing your own story, and it's just a matter of how you want it to be told. Stay curious! Do not forget why you are here!