By Claudia Martinez
Claudia Martinez is a La Casa student who is interning with TRP. From La Casa to Your Casa is her inside glimpse of life at La Casa, and will feature interviews with fellow students and other La Casa news.
This month, she interviewed Alejandro Garcia, a Robert Morris student for whom La Casa has already made a huge impact.
Alejandro Garcia is not your typical college student. Waking up at 4:00 a.m. to be at track practice by 6:00 a.m. was a daily routine for this Robert Morris Culinary Art student. That is, until he learned of La Casa. To this talented track and cross-country Waukegan star, La Casa has had a dramatic impact that has changed his life.
“Before coming to La Casa, my life was a struggle,” says Alejandro.
When he first started college, he quickly learned how tricky it would be to manage both track and cross-country practice along with his studying.
“As a freshman,” he explains, “I had to be at practice for track early, so I would wake up at 5 a.m. to get in the 5:54 train and get to Chicago at about 7:20.”
Alejandro was in a constant rush with little to no time to even enjoy life. Arriving to Ogilvie Station, he walked to school another 20 minutes, getting there by 7:40 to get to class by 8:00. After a long school day and cross-country practice, he rushed back to Ogilvie Station to catch the 6:35 p.m. train back to Waukegan.
“Right when I got home,” he says, “I had to start homework to be able to go to sleep by 11:00 and wake up by 5 again the next day.”
This was a daily routine for Alejandro. This draining schedule would only get harder once track season started. He started waking up at 4:00 a.m. to get to school by 5:40 and track practice by 6. His practice would then go on for two hours, and he’d start class right after. Oftentimes, he barely even had time to eat, relying on quick sandwiches for lunch. This was his daily routine from December 2012 to May 2013.
During the summer, he decided it was time for a change. He started looking for a place to live. He tried looking for an apartment with friends but it never happened.
“While I was searching,” he said, “my friend Travis told me about La Casa. But my mom was hesitant, so I commuted again my sophomore year at Robert Morris.”
As a sophomore, Alejandro was now taking culinary classes, which were more demanding, along with his team practices.
“There were times when I had to sleep with my friend at La Casa,” he said. “I would sleep there up to three times a week sometimes.”
Although it took some time to convince his mom to let him move to La Casa, Alejandro succeeded. “I had to have a serious talk with her,” he said. “I told her I was tired, sleepy, that I was taking more naps than I actually do, and I hate naps!” Shortly afterwards, Alejandro’s mom gave in.
Once he moved to La Casa, everything changed for him.
“I was so happy!” he exclaims with a smile on his face. “FINALLY some sleep! I feel more relaxed, less stressed, and I have more time for homework. Right now I am able to get my eight hours of sleep, and this is good for me since I am a runner. My body needs to be rested.”
Today, Alejandro is able to manage his practices, homework, sleep, and even holds a job at Eyrie Restaurant in Oak Park. And at 4 a.m., he’s doing what most other students are doing: sleeping!

Return to Nueva Vida December 2013 here.