Students to Watch: Karina Guillen

Since enrolling at Harper College, Karina Guillen has taken big strides to make the most of her learning experience in the Early Childhood Development program - and she's only just getting started. 

Karina Guillen knew she had a way with kids at an early age.

A first generation Mexican American and an only child, Karina was often tasked to be the one to watch her cousins at family gatherings where she planned games and activities and cared for them when they needed it. It was this experience, paired with a Childhood Education class at Hoffman Estates High School, that inevitably inspired her decision to study Early Childhood Development Education at Harper College.

Since enrolling at Harper, Karina has taken big strides to make the most of her learning experience. She completed her student teaching at Harper’s on-campus Child Learning Center and is Co-Chair of the Student Education Association where she helps facilitate discussions about the program with current and prospective students. These discussions cover everything from transferring to a four-year university to teaching strategies. She credits her successes, not only on the opportunities that Harper has provided, but on the character and commitment of her instructors, as well.

“The instructors are amazing,” Karina said. “They really want us to understand what it means to be a teacher and they want us to want this for the rest of our lives.”

"The instructors are amazing. They really want us to understand what it means to be a teacher and they want us to want this for the rest of our lives."

- Karina Guillen

Kathleen Nikolai, Early Childhood Education Instructor at Harper College, took notice of Karina’s passion for childhood education from day one. “Her contributions in class are thoughtful and creative,” Kathleen said. “She truly understands the needs of young children and how to help them develop.”

Next year, Karina will transfer to Roosevelt University in Chicago where she will earn her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and go on to fulfill her dream of being a childhood educator.

 "Karina's contributions in class are thoughtful and creative. She truly understands the needs of young children and how to help them develop."

- Kathleen Nikolai, Early Childhood Education Instructor

Learn more about our Early Childhood Education program here.