In her first semester, Yaline Cano barely left her dorm. Two years later, she is Illinois Tech’s Student Government President — a Chicago-born, first-generation student on a full-ride Chicago Difference Scholarship, pursuing her bachelor’s in game production management alongside a master’s in public administration, mentoring pre-college students, meeting with the provost, and aiming for a future as a university dean of students. We sat down with Madam President to hear how it happened — and what she tells students who haven’t taken the first step yet.

Q. Introduce yourself to the students who haven’t met you yet.

“My name is Yaline Cano. I’m going into my third year at Illinois Tech, doing my bachelor’s in game production management and my master’s in public administration. I was born and raised in Chicago — and a fun fact about me is that I’m the current student government president.”

Q. What made you choose Illinois Tech?

“Illinois Tech has been my dream school since eighth grade. My older sister came here to study electrical engineering, and she’s been taking me around campus since I was little. In high school, my game programming teacher was an Illinois Tech alum who always talked about her experience here. Then senior year, I got the letter: the Chicago Difference Scholarship — a full ride covering tuition, room and board, and food. It was number one on my list anyway, so it was an automatic yes.”

Q. Take us back to your first semester. Who were you then?

“I didn’t know what to expect — my parents didn’t go to college; I’m a first-generation student. When I first got here I just stayed in my dorm and didn’t talk to anyone besides my roommate. Then one day someone invited me to a student government meeting. Next thing I know, I’m really involved, I’m talking to everyone on campus, and I have great mentors. I went from Stuart School of Business senator to vice president of student life to president — by the end of my first year.”

Q. Tell us about your internships and projects.

“My internship was with Illinois Tech’s pre-college program — honestly, a dream. I stayed on campus over the summer, led the other interns, coordinated student outings, served as TA for the game design course, and learned how to motivate students toward STEM careers. And through my program I’ve built physical games I can put on my resume — in game design, they bring in outside companies who give us ideas, and we create prototypes for them. Real employers, real projects.”

Q. What have Elevate experiences looked like for you?

“Hands-on activities that simulate what it will be like further down my career — that’s personally how I learn; I don’t learn through textbooks. As I got further along, the projects got more hands-on, and Career Services connected me with employers and people around campus. They were there to support me.”

Q. What would you tell students who haven’t signed up for Elevate — or haven’t finished?

“Take that extra step forward. Having a Success Coach in your corner, and having these experiences under your belt, helps you put your foot forward above the rest of your peers when you graduate. And to anyone nervous about getting involved: you’re always going to feel uncomfortable at the start, and that’s okay. Do it again and again and you’ll get comfortable — then enthusiastic. The worst someone can say is no, and that’s not the end of the world.”

Q. Ten years from now, where are you — and what part of Elevate gets you there?

“In ten years, I hope to be a dean of students at a university. I think I’m on the right track — the extracurriculars included in Elevate set me up for that path. I wouldn’t have known what path to take, or whether I was on the right track, without meeting the right mentors and having these experiences.”

Interview conducted by Illinois Tech Career Services; answers edited and condensed for clarity.