Success Story: Meet Tonya
That nervous feeling of “imposter syndrome” when starting something new is normal. But what Tanya Loa experienced while working at a prestigious Chicago university hospital was different. She was more than qualified for the job, but as the only woman of Mexican heritage on staff, Loa just never felt like she belonged.
That all changed when she arrived at St. Augustine College at Lewis University to earn an associate’s degree in Respiratory Therapy, receiving the training needed to work as a respiratory therapist in hospitals, home care, pulmonary clinics, and other healthcare environments
“I look at all my classmates, and they’re just like me. A lot of my classmates are older and have young children,” says Loa, herself a mother of three, ages 7, 2, and 15 months. “I don’t feel like a minority anymore. I feel at home here—like I belong.”
The road to St. Augustine was not without its challenges. Loa’s parents didn’t finish high school, so the process of applying to college and getting financial aid was so daunting that she almost gave up.
“I saw the price of the tuition and got overwhelmed, thinking it’s not for me,” she says, explaining how her partner later encouraged her to take the leap. “I got motivated again to apply, so I got in touch with the St. Augustine financial aid department. They guided me through the whole process, and I haven’t had to pay anything out of pocket yet.
which I’m really grateful for.”
Loa also appreciates the flexibility of class options, which allows her to juggle school and motherhood with a remote job at the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
“Half of my classes are online, and half are in person, so it’s the perfect balance right now,” she says. “And since a lot of classes are online, my classmates become my immediate support system. That’s a big part of why I’m doing so well.”
Loa also leans on her significant other and her parents. While she says they are “old school” and sometimes have a hard time relating to her life as a college student, they are proud of what she’s trying to achieve.
“I love health care and want to work in a hospital. That would be my immediate goal,” she says. “Another long-term goal is to set up a nonprofit wellness and prevention center with a food pantry. I’ve had a lot of people help me, so I want to find a way that I can give back to my community.”
Loa is on track to graduate from St. Augustine College at Lewis University in 2027, when she will become the first person in her family to earn a college degree—an accomplishment that once felt impossible.
“Even if you’re coming from the south side of Chicago like I am,” she says, “St. Augustine’s teachers and programs make the dream come true.”
