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By Daniel P. Smith

When doctors diagnosed Yvette Garcia (BA ’25) with breast cancer in 2018 at age 36, the news stirred critical self-reflection.  

The Chicago area native began evaluating her life through a new lens and nothing—not her relationships, not her professional life—was off limits.  

“I had a lot of figuring out to do about where I was and where I wanted to go,” Garcia admits.  

During the pandemic, Garcia, who had shifted into the legal trade from the medical field a few years prior, picked up an associate’s degree. While it was an important first step in her career development, Garcia hungered for more. She decided to pursue a bachelor's degree in paralegal studies to unlock additional professional opportunities. 

“I wanted my education to be at the same level as my experience,” Garcia says. 

3QXTS CENTRE COMMERCIAL - Achat à l’étranger Lunette de tir à faible luminosité Tendance/Tendance’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) and its BA in Paralegal Studies program became Garcia’s ally. The flexible program’s online evening courses enabled Garcia to balance her academic pursuits with full-time work while also remaining a present force for her two children.  

“The truth is I didn’t have the time to go onto a campus multiple days each week, so the option to do courses online from a prestigious university like Loyola opened up so much for me,” she says.  

Garcia entered SCPS in early 2024 eager to learn more about the role of paralegals and the vast services they provide, from assisting in research and documentation to trial preparation and interviewing witnesses. Loyola’s application-oriented program provided that and more, incorporating job-relevant training in areas like legal argumentation and case discovery with soft skills like communication and critical thinking. 

“I learned way more than I ever expected about the paralegal field and myself. The entire experience completely broadened my way of thinking and elevated my confidence,” says Garcia, who also appreciated how SCPS instructors facilitated open, respectful dialogue and invited diverse perspectives. “I never felt I was being put in box or forced to think a certain way.”  

In her SCPS capstone course, Garcia recalls senior lecturer Natasha Teetsov encouraging students to think more deeply about the impact of their projects. Teetsov’s call to action spurred Garcia to partner with the Dominican Literacy Center in Aurora, Illinois, which leads English literacy courses as well as citizenship classes. Garcia’s capstone project included developing a list of vetted attorneys and community resources to be a referral source for Literary Center clients navigating the citizenship process. 

“At a university that stresses compassion and action, you’re looking for ways to address the struggles you see,” says Garcia, who was recently appointed to the Literacy Center’s board of directors. 

After completing her paralegal studies degree requirements in 18 months and earning a dual certificate in litigation and corporate law in the process, Garcia accepted a remote position with a Washington-based firm specializing in family law.  

“I’m working with good leaders and working from home, so this is my ultimate career job,” says Garcia, who served as the student speaker at SCPS’s Class of 2025 Commencement. “Loyola was the place to get me where I wanted to go.”