Eliseo received two job offers upon graduation and he accepted a position teaching music at an Aurora elementary school where he student-taught.

His story began with North Central's professors and teaching opportunities, which he describes as second to none. "Our teachers look for potential in you, not just musical expertise, and they give you one-on-one attention and freedom to design your own individual program," he says. "I set my own goals and studied voice, piano, clarinet and conducting. I also loaded all my music education classes and ensembles into my first couple years so I could decide where I wanted to focus. At larger schools with larger classes, you don’t get the chance to customize your program or take lots of lessons."

Eliseo also gained significant teaching and mentoring experience by working with the Junior/Senior Scholars program, North Central’s yearlong college readiness program for disadvantaged youth in high-need communities. He was Golden Apple Scholar during his four-year North Central career.