Edison Weng

As a high school student at Perspectives Charter School, Edison Weng thought about one day becoming a photographer. However, once he saw the nurses who cared for residents at his grandfather’s nursing home, he realized that was the career path he wanted to take. He wanted to be able to help people, and becoming a nurse would allow him to do just that.

Knowing he wanted to stay in Chicago to help his mom, his older brother helped him research colleges. When he learned that Malcolm X College was City Colleges of Chicago’s center of excellence in healthcare education, Edison knew he had found the path that would help him reach his career goals. It was also an affordable and flexible option for a student who worked two jobs while he worked toward his associate degree.

While at MXC, Edison got involved with the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and ran on the cross country team. His advice to others is to “form connections and join clubs. Surround yourself with people that have the same goals – it will help you to succeed.”

He also felt that his classes prepared him for the next step in his education. Edison earned his associate degree in general studies in May of 2019, and was accepted into UIC’s highly competitive nursing program. He know it will be a tough program, but also that it will make him the best nurse he can be.