Edith Sanchez first got up in front of a crowd when she was 13. She performed regional Mexican songs at a restaurant for Father’s Day. When she finished, her parents were proud, but she also had a new and growing sense of confidence.

       Six years and many performances later, this confidence ballooned, and on Wednesday, Sanchez found herself on stage once again, this time to introduce the president of the United States to an audience at her community college in northwest suburban Crystal Lake.

       Biden visited Crystal Lake, where Sanchez is a second-year at McHenry County College, to discuss his “Build Back Better” plan, which focuses on education with an emphasis on working families and includes a proposal for two free years of community college. Sanchez had been selected to introduce him in part because of her story, which exemplifies how education helps generations of people, she said.

       In her speech introducing the president, Sanchez spoke about how her community college education has “transformed my life.”

       As a first-generation college student whose parents emigrated from Mexico more than 25 years ago with no formal education, Sanchez has received more than seven scholarships, from her high school, her community and now her college, that allowed her to attend community college. According to McHenry County College spokesperson Christina Haggerty, the college’s aim “is to ensure that barriers are removed for all students to get an education.” The scholarships Sanchez received are also allowing her to now push for a four-year college, which she was previously unable to afford.

       Sanchez expressed her support for Biden’s education plan. “With the American (Families) Plan, our students and families will benefit. We need to be educated, we need to be an educated nation and improve each generation.”

       Another reason Sanchez was selected to introduce Biden was her position as McHenry County College’s student trustee, an elected role held by a student chosen annually by classmates. Sanchez was encouraged to apply by her instructors and college administrators, including her mentor Sonia Reising, assistant vice president of student affairs.

       Edith Sanchez, a student trustee at McHenry County College, introduces President Joe Biden at the college on July 7, 2021, in Crystal Lake. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

       Reising had met Sanchez even before she started community college when she attended a show that featured Sanchez singing at an elementary school and by that time a fully fledged performer of Mexican songs. When Sanchez came to McHenry County College, Reising became her mentor.

       Sanchez is also president of the student organization Latinos Unidos and worked with other members during the pandemic to volunteer at a clinic, providing bilingual assistance to help people during the vaccination process.

       As she spoke in the college gymnasium, anti-Biden protesters stood outside, some with signs that read “Secure our borders.” There were also counterprotesters, some holding signs in favor of Biden.

       Sanchez was more focused on her speech.

       “It was just such an honor to give my speech to the president that I didn’t really notice that people were out there,” she said.

       jyan@chicagotribune.com

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