CHICAGO — When staffing shortages left Carolina Carchi’s high school classroom without a teacher, she didn’t complain — she took over. Now, the 18-year-old graduate of Roberto Clemente Community Academy in Humboldt Park has earned a near full-ride to Northwestern University, where she plans to major in engineering and continue her passion for teaching.
Carchi made headlines in 2024 when she stepped up to lead algebra and chemistry classes during her freshman and sophomore years. Her quiet leadership turned into a citywide inspiration — and her bold decision to teach while still a student helped open the door to her dream college.
From Filling in as Teacher to College Trailblazer
In her college admissions essay, Carchi described the chaos that unfolded at Clemente during the 2021–22 and 2022–23 school years: missing instructors, a substitute who didn’t know the material, and months without adequate instruction. Instead of letting her peers fall behind, Carchi began creating lesson plans, printing out assignments at FedEx, and bringing supplies for classmates.
“I took it as a challenge to do something for my class — not leave them behind,” she told Block Club in a previous interview.
She earned widespread praise for her efforts, including letters from former teachers and encouragement from educators across Chicago. Her story also ignited broader conversations about CPS staffing issues, especially in neighborhood schools like Clemente.
A Childhood Marked by Strength
Carchi’s resilience began long before high school. As a young child, she battled leukemia, enduring years of chemotherapy and homeschool isolation. Even then, she stood up for others on the playground, shielding classmates from bullies despite her own fragile health.
Her parents — immigrants from Mexico and Ecuador — became her role models. Her father works as an electrical technician, while her mother became a full-time caregiver during Carchi’s treatment. Neither parent attended college, but both stressed the value of education.
Leading Beyond the Classroom
Carchi’s leadership extended far beyond substitute teaching. She:
- Launched a petition that helped Clemente hire a new chemistry teacher
- Joined the interview panel for that teacher’s hiring process
- Served as the honorary student board member on the Chicago Board of Education during a turbulent year of resignations and leadership shifts
- Participated in Spanish literature discussions about Latin American identity and immigration
Despite the chaos within CPS — including the resignation of all seven school board members and the firing of CEO Pedro Martinez — Carchi stayed focused. She used her role to advocate for students citywide, learning how to navigate educational policy in real-time.
“It taught me how to collaborate and grow as a leader,” she said. “Hardships are just opportunities to learn.”
Northwestern Bound — First in Her Family
Carchi first became connected to Northwestern through its college access and enrichment program for CPS students. After falling in love with the Evanston campus as a freshman, she set her sights on attending. Her determination paid off: the university awarded her a financial aid package covering nearly 85% of tuition.
She’ll be the first in her family to attend college. Her older brother currently studies at UIC, and her younger brother will be starting high school at Clemente this fall.
In her graduation speech, she credited her parents with instilling in her the values of strength, compassion, and perseverance:
“Education begins at home — with parents who lead with love and moral purpose.”
This summer, while most teens relax, Carchi is prepping for coursework at Northwestern. Her schedule includes academic reviews, independent study, and goal-setting. Her focus? Hitting the ground running when classes begin.
Do you know another local student changing lives through leadership or resilience? Share their story ideas with us at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
