Getting to Know an Exceptional Eighth-Grade Student from Albany Park Multicultural Academy

Meet Ailin! While her time at Albany Park Multicultural Academy is winding down, she knows that she will look back on her two years there—and all of her time in CPS thus far—very fondly. She has also left a positive mark on her school that her peers and teachers alike have noticed. 

“Ailin is very open-minded, and she is very accepting of challenges,” said Ms. Clair Galloway, one of Ailin’s teachers. “Nothing holds her back, so I hope she continues having that mentality.” 

We are so proud of Ailin and all of our phenomenal members of the CPS Class of 2025. We interviewed her to learn more about her journey that has led her to graduate and head to Westinghouse College Prep later this year. Learn more about her story below. 

What are some of your interests both inside and outside of the classroom? 

I’m involved in a lot of extracurricular activities like basketball and cheer, and I’ve also been in clubs such as the photography club. I like exploring new things and trying to challenge myself more. One of my favorite classes is science because that is what I want to pursue in my career. Right now, we’re learning about reproduction and genes.

How do you think your teachers and peers would describe you? 

I feel like my teachers notice the hard work I do and how much I try to help my peers. Since I speak both English and Spanish, I really try to help others who may not understand the language as well. I used to be more of an introvert, but my peers have made me more outgoing, and now it comes more naturally to me. 

In what other ways have you grown over the years? 

I’ve put more effort into my schoolwork, in part because of my parents. They have always worked hard, and they’ve made a big impact on my life because what I do is mostly for them. 

What is one of your favorite memories of being a student at Albany Park? 

I’m a tour guide, and I love that because I love meeting new people! When we have a new student, I help them get to know their classes and the school, and other stuff like how to open their locker. It has helped me be more social and get to know more people whom I usually wouldn’t talk to. 

What are you looking forward to most about high school? 

I want to pursue a career as an ophthalmologist, and there’s a program at Westinghouse that I think will help me reach that goal. When I was little, I was diagnosed with a rare eye condition, and my ophthalmologist made me feel so comfortable, which is why I hope to be an ophthalmologist as well. 

What advice would you give to Albany Park’s future eighth graders? 

Do your homework on time! If you do it late, you’re going to be stressed out about everything you have to do. 

If you could sum up your time at Albany Park in one word, what would it be and why? 

Wonderful, because it was a wonderful experience. I’ve gotten so many opportunities here like being part of cultural events, and I’ve learned lots of new things just by being part of the school in general.