Harper College summit inspires area Latinos

Ernesto Mejia posed tough questions to the roughly 450 Northwest suburban high school freshmen and sophomores gathered Friday at Harper College for the 13th annual Latino Summit.

Mejia, a college administrator turned motivational speaker who had to overcome discrimination, modest beginnings and a disease that left him temporarily paralyzed, asked how many in the crowd knew a teenage parent, a high school dropout or someone in jail. The vast majority raised their hands.

Mejia then asked how many knew someone - other than a teacher - with a master's degree. Only a handful did.

"You're going to run into obstacles," Mejia said. "But you don't have to be a product of your environment."

By the end of the daylong event, which focuses on the importance of sticking with school amid the reality that Latino students seek out college less frequently than their peers, the teens came away with confidence knowing they too could start on a path toward higher education.

They met in small groups with more than 100 Latino professionals and current college students who came to show them success is possible. Scholarships were awarded to 15 high school seniors who attended a previous Latino Summit.

Mejia cautioned that to overcome the obstacles before them, the students would have to put real effort into school and the way they live their lives.

"Try a little harder, study longer and ask more questions," Mejia said. "Appreciate the sacrifices your parents make and show them."

Students attended from Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove, Glenbrook South, Hoffman Estates, Hersey, Maine East, Maine West, New Comer Center, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, Wheeling and Vanguard high schools.