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Today’s academic success story is another student with a successful community mindset—CCPA sophomore Adrian Mendez, who exemplifies �ʹڶ���’s emphasis on creativity and community. At just six years old, Adrian began to join her father to sing onstage when he played guitar at local gigs in her hometown of Bloomington-Normal. She soon developed a lifelong passion for pop and jazz music, and when it came time to select a conservatory and pursue a career as a singer, �ʹڶ��� was an easy choice.

“It immediately felt like home,” she says. "The entire CCPA faculty was so welcoming and understanding about how to turn my passion into a career, and the performing arts community here is incredibly supportive. I can’t imagine studying anywhere else.” 

Adrian has taken advantage of everything CCPA offers: access to Chicago’s incredibly diverse music scene, faculty that push students to explore the boundaries of creativity, and a strong social justice lens that applies diverse new perspectives to established forms. In just her second year at �ʹڶ���, Adrian has been able to attend live jazz performances throughout the city, has declared a film studies minor after taking a Philosophy in Film Course, and has developed deeper appreciation for her favorite musical genre by learning about the rich connection between jazz and Black history.

“�ʹڶ��� has allowed me to expand my understanding of what expression and creativity is,” she says. “And I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”