Airel Otero, a Valparaiso native, graduates this May with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She is the first person in her family to graduate from college.

Choosing to attend Indiana University Northwest was not a hard decision for Otero. She applied to several distant colleges, but after one visit to IU Northwest, Otero knew “it was the right choice for me academically, and the atmosphere was so welcoming.”

Otero’s dreams of teaching elementary education started early in her childhood, when she would play “teacher” to her younger siblings and friends. She has always loved children, so introducing them to new ideas felt instinctive to her. “I am the oldest in my family,” Otero explained. “Using my experiences with my younger siblings and what I’ve learned working as a nanny, I knew that education was my calling and the right choice for me.”

Otero’s cast-iron conviction about pursuing elementary education hit a stumbling block early on.

“I let everyone get in my head about a teacher’s salary,” Otero said, “even though that was never a deciding factor for me.” Initially, those other influences convinced her to study radiology, but after one semester, she realized her mistake and switched to her first love, education.

While her first semester might have been a “misstep,” as she calls it, Otero used that time productively to investigate a national organization called “Love Your Melon,” that raises awareness of pediatric cancer.

“After learning that college students around the country run the program, I told other students that I really wanted to bring Love Your Melon to campus,” Otero said. "We started the student club and got to visit children in hospitals and stage events on campus, like “Cuddles for Cancer” and a “Kick Away Cancer” kick ball tournament.”

Otero credits her first semester “misstep” for the opportunity to establish this compassionate new club. “If I didn’t have the obstacle of everyone telling me to pursue radiology,” she said, “I wouldn’t have started this club or met my fellow members, who are now some of my greatest friends."

Involvement in campus life proved an important facet in Otero’s college career. “I was president of Love Your Melon for five years,” she said, “and in 2016 I earned the Student Service Award for my role in bringing this organization to campus. It was such an honor.” Otero was also one of five award recipients at the “Women Helping Women” luncheon, where she was honored for her student leadership.

Otero said IU Northwest was the best decision she ever made, and she wouldn’t trade the friends and life experiences she gained here for anything.

“I had the best and most caring professors,” she said. “It wasn’t always an easy ride, but I am proud to say that I am now a college graduate."