What does it mean to lead with your values? Juju Gonzalez-Moreno, the Humanities Research Institute’s 25–26 Odyssey Project Intern is a living example of this philosophy. A senior double majoring in Latina/Latino studies and psychology, Juju works directly with Odyssey students, offering support in the classroom, with technology, and with tutoring.
The Odyssey Project provides free college courses to income-eligible adults in East Central Illinois. That mission was what initially drew Juju to apply to work for the Odyssey Project. As a first-generation student whose family immigrated from Mexico, Juju was encouraged from a young age to pursue education in order to have access to more opportunities. As they entered university, their passion for education developed into something more personal— from seeing education just as a general positive, to an integral part of life.
Working with the Odyssey Project, Juju has seen their own educational journey reflected in the students: some who are entering higher education for the first time, or returning to it after a long time away, rediscovering their own passions. Juju’s genuine care and investment in education, as well as the students of the Odyssey project, is evident. They were clearly excited and passionate to share about the students and the projects they are doing, as well as the way they have seen all of the students grow. Juju talked about various moments that brought them joy, seeing students getting genuinely engaged in the class discussions, with those discussions sometimes continuing into the shared mealtime.
When asked to describe what they do with Odyssey in one word, the word Juju chose was “Learning”— particularly about the students. “I’m learning about them, about who they are, what they do, their passions, the things they want to achieve.”
While Juju has worked hard to build relationships with the students, they also find the relationships the students have built with one another to be beautiful. They observed how Odyssey students have created an encouraging classroom community. The students support one another, invite each other over, and ask where other students are when they aren’t present, truly wanting the best for each other.
“I think they have supported themselves in other ways that I don’t think I can do,” Juju said, “where they have the wisdom, they have the knowledge and the experience that I don’t, to support one another.”
When asked what advice they would give to students interested in applying for the Odyssey Project Internship, Juju had two things to say. The first? Follow your values.
“Your values will eventually bleed into the work that you do— not just with Odyssey but with everything else. So come into this internship knowing that you believe in this— in Odyssey and in the system, even if it’s flawed, to believe it has potential, that it can improve people’s lives because it has and there’s very obvious proof that Odyssey works.”
The second? Be yourself.
“Because a lot of the students who come into Odyssey come in nervous, not just about the actual classes but also about being in a classroom environment with people that they don’t know,” they explained, “be yourself and reach out to them.”
Ultimately, the Odyssey Project, as well as the Humanities Research Institute, is lucky to have such an empathetic, passionate, hardworking intern like Juju. They bring genuine care to the role, and truly want what is best for the students. Their passion for education has bled into their work, and allowed them to thrive with Odyssey, and to help others discover their own passions.
“Education is good because it provides people the critical thinking and the skills that are necessary to navigate the world. I want other people to experience what I’ve experienced in education, to experience the good, to experience what it can really give you.”
Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on the Humanities Research Institute website.