Pablo Antonio Rivera III

Pablo Antonio Rivera III of Elmwood Park decided to enroll at Triton College after high school because of the friendly atmosphere and engaging classes. Most importantly, Rivera is grateful for the Center for Access and Accommodative Services (CAAS) and the influence the department has had on him.

“CAAS has assisted me with tests, notes and classes,” he explained. “They’ve been leading me on the right path to college. There’s a lot of great friendships and camaraderie.”

In addition to his experience with CAAS, Rivera is studying Social Science with a focus on foreign languages. Already a Spanish speaker, Rivera wants to learn others, including French and Italian.

Furthering his creative interests, Rivera is enjoying his art class, Ancient to Medieval Art, taught by instructor Stephanie Lupu. He feels that Triton College’s Visual, Performing and Communication Arts Department is accepting, fun and a place where he can express himself creatively.

“Stephanie Lupu has changed my life,” he said. “She has given me inspiration. She has made me see that I excel in art and that maybe I should take more classes.”

Rivera especially loves learning about the architecture and calligraphy featured in Ancient to Medieval Art. He believes that artwork allows people to share their feelings and meaningful messages to an audience.

“Triton’s education has shaped my life very effectively,” he said. “I’ve gained a lot of knowledge.”

Going forward, Rivera hopes to become a medical translator, using the tools and resources he has gained at Triton. He is also planning to transfer to the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) or Elmhurst University, with the support from Triton’s Transfer Center, which is helping him identify the best fit for his major.

“I plan on graduating from Triton in the Fall of 2026,” he said. “It feels so good to be almost done. Triton has helped me in so many ways. I feel very fortunate.”