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Des Plaines resident Brian Chan overcomes health issues to graduate from Oakton

Des Plaines resident Brian Chan didn't let a chronic illness stop him from graduating from Oakton Community College with his associate of arts degree this May.

Chan, a graduate of Maine East High School, has Hirschsprung's disease, a condition that causes him to experience severe stomach issues. The illness is caused by missing nerve cells in the muscles of part or all of the large intestine.

"With the disease, I would often experience episodes of intense pain," Chan explains. "It's something I have to live with for the rest of my life and affected my studies in high school and at Oakton. I need to rest a lot and unfortunately missed a lot of classes.

"My professors were extremely accommodating, but I had to work extra hard studying. Living with this disease has shaped my life to become a strong and motivated person. It's helped me develop a good work ethic and get things accomplished without complaining."

While at Oakton, the sky was the limit for Chan, who grew up on the South Side of Chicago. He served as Oakton's student trustee while chairing the Student Government Association's Elections Committee and serving on the Excellence in Teaching Committee. Chan also was a member of the First Gen Club and Honors Student Organization in addition to having worked multiple jobs on campus as an orientation leader and student employee in Career Services. He finished among the final four in Illinois State University's 2016-17 business startup showcase and last year earned Oakton's Outstanding Contributor to Student Life Award. And this year he was a recipient of the Board of Trustees Outstanding Student Award.

"I want to make a lasting impression on not only those who are close to me, but on society as a whole," Chan says. "I know that becoming a better student will enhance my education and help ensure that I have a successful future."

Chan plans on transferring to DePaul University this fall and majoring in business finance. He hopes to one day own his own business and also wants to help his mother retire without having to worry about finances.

"I'm very proud to have attended Oakton," he says. "Oakton provided a supportive environment with lots of resources for me to succeed, including the Learning Center. While at Oakton, I was able to flourish by learning new skills and enhancing my critical thinking skills."

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