Natalie Chicas grew up knowing that nothing would be handed to her — not because her parents said it, but because she watched them build a life from the ground up. She comes from a family that turned an apartment complex into a village, and their shared dream became the foundation for everything she’s working toward today.
The 18-year-old senior at Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School – a coeducational school in Takoma Park, Maryland jointly sponsored by The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and the Salesians of Don Bosco – will attend the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, this fall, where she plans to study economics.
Chicas transferred to Don Bosco Cristo Rey as a junior from a large public high school, where she often felt like just another face in the crowd.
“Teachers didn’t know your name unless you were in their class,” she said. “Here, even if I didn’t have a teacher, they’d still know who I was.”
At Don Bosco, she found a sense of community and support that made all the difference.
“You feel like you matter, and the teachers show they care whether you succeed or not,” she said.
She became an active part of school life, captaining the cross country and track teams, playing in the band, and serving as a student ambassador, summer bridge leader, and transfer mentor.
“I jumped into everything,” she said. “Even if I embarrass myself, it’s okay. We’re all human. People will laugh with you, and that’s okay.”
Though not Catholic, Chicas identifies as Christian and said her time at Don Bosco Cristo Rey deepened her spiritual life. Attending Mass, theology classes, and school-wide prayer gave her a new perspective.
“Don Bosco helped me see how faith and education can come together,” she said. “It helped me feel supported in a new way.”
She said the school’s culture allows teachers to genuinely connect with students.
“Teachers check in with you, they’re flexible, and they want to know if you’re okay,” she said. “That changes the environment. I’m sure public school teachers care too, but there’s more freedom here to show it.”
Chicas also excelled in the classroom, particularly in AP Literature.
“I’ve always loved reading,” she said. “We recently read “Beloved” in my English class. It was eye-opening and really changed my perspective.”
She was surprised to be accepted to Holy Cross.
“I applied thinking I wouldn’t get in because it’s really competitive,” she said. “But not only did I get in, I received the best financial aid package of all the schools I applied to.”
Although Holy Cross doesn’t offer a business major, Chicas said economics felt like the right path.
“My dad has a small business, so I kind of want to help him out in that aspect,” she said.
Her father, Miguel Chicas, emigrated from El Salvador at 17 and eventually opened his own towing company.
“He didn’t have any experience, but he asked questions, learned from others, so he jumped in and figured it out,” she said. “That’s where I get it from.”
Chicas grew up in Maryland with her parents, Sandra and Miguel, and two older brothers. Her parents emigrated as teenagers, first settling in Washington, D.C., before moving to Maryland.
“My dad’s older brother was already here, and then all my aunts and uncles followed,” she said.
Growing up, her extended family lived in the same apartment complex, transforming it into something that felt more like a village. That tight-knit community, she said, shaped her understanding of support, sacrifice, and opportunity.
Though her immediate family are now U.S. citizens, Chicas said immigration enforcement has still made many in her predominantly Hispanic community fearful.
“I go to the stores on a Saturday and they’re almost empty,” she said. “People are scared to go out, scared to run errands because they are afraid they might not come back home.”
Balancing schoolwork, activities, and college applications wasn’t easy.
“I was taking three APs, applying to college, writing essays, doing sports, staying after school,” she said. “I didn’t know how I’d get through it, but I did.”
She said her drive comes from watching her parents work for every opportunity.
“My parents didn’t have anything handed to them, and neither did I,” she said. “They taught me that you have to work for what you want.”
Looking ahead, Chicas hopes to use her education to give back.
“I want to graduate from college and come back to support my community,” she said. “Maybe help people with their taxes or organize events where people can come together and feel supported.”
When asked to describe Don Bosco Cristo Rey in three words, she didn’t hesitate: “Community. Opportunity. Caring.”
And her graduation theme song? After a brief pause, she said, “‘We Are the Champions.’”
