ECC set student on path to scientific research

I came to Elgin Community College as a first generation student and a high school dropout with a high school equivalency degree. I am leaving ECC with my associate in science degree with high honors and as an honors scholar with a full-tuition scholarship to Elmhurst College.

I discovered my path in science during my time at ECC. My major is biology because I love life and exploring the complex nature that exists within each organism and ecosystem.

Not only did my classroom experiences facilitate exploring my interests, but so did the summer 2016 internship at the National Science Foundation that I acquired as a result of being at ECC.

The advice I have for future and current ECC students is to get involved in Student Life activities as soon as possible and seek out ECC Foundation scholarships. Through the ECC Foundation, I was lucky enough to receive the Purses With Purpose Scholarship, which not only helped pay for my tuition for multiple semesters, but allowed me to interact and receive mentorship with the women who manage and fund the scholarship.

Scholarships such as Purses With Purpose allow students to have extra time to study, get involved, volunteer, participate in clubs, look for internships, and explore themselves.

Thanks to my scholarship, I had the time to look for and apply for internships and secure a volunteer position at the Botanical Herbarium Laboratory at the Field Museum in Chicago.

Another way to get involved is through clubs such as the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. For two semesters I was a fellowship chair for PTK, which meant I could envision and facilitate events that impact the ECC community. One of these events was the ECC Campus Litter Clean Up, where 20 people showed up to discuss what they have noticed about the environment before picking up litter around ECC. We came back with approximately 10 bags of litter, which was surprising to the people participating.

In ECC's Honors Program, I was thrilled to continue developing myself in ways I never expected.

I had the opportunity to become an honors scholar and complete a portfolio consisting of 12 essays that helped me reflect on my years as an ECC honors student, and made me realize what accomplishments I made regardless of the outside struggles I endured.

Those times of reflection are necessary to develop my ability to critically think about where I came from and where I am going. This is essential to create my path in life following my graduation at ECC. By completing this portfolio, I was eligible to apply for and successfully received the full-tuition scholarship to Elmhurst College.

Soon after graduation, I will be flying to Puerto Rico to do an internship in the El Yunque Rainforest to research invasive orchids. I will create a research plan, collect and analyze data, and present my findings at a symposium at the University of Puerto Rico.

This internship experience will help me develop the necessary skills to do research at Elmhurst College this fall.

I highly recommend ECC for any student who is exploring their interests and career options in life. Community colleges gives students a chance to try new things without the financial burden of debt.

Thanks to ECC, I have been able to diversify my experiences both inside and outside of the classroom as well as receive a prestigious scholarship to Elmhurst College to continue my biological studies and finish my bachelor's degree.