Alexis Loula: ECC's faculty helped me find my path

I was introduced to the Elgin Community College Dual Credit program when I was a sophomore in high school. Earning my associate degree at the same time I would be receiving my diploma sounded incredible to me, so I decided to enroll in the two-year Dual Credit program.

My first semester was fall 2018, and I immediately became involved in the rich student life of ECC. I was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa in spring 2019 and was elected Secretary of Students Who Are Not Silent--the LGBT advocacy group--that same year.

Though there are many amazing instructors at ECC, English instructor Bill Demaree has supported me the most throughout my journey attending ECC. He was the first class I walked into my first day at ECC, and he has been there for me for two years now. He was always a friendly face to talk to when I needed a laugh, and the professor I trusted to write my college recommendations.

ECC has given me experiences I would have never received at my high school, such as volunteering in the greenhouse or working behind the scenes in the laboratories. ECC's science instructors helped me decide on my major and my transfer school: I will be a biochemistry major at Loyola University Chicago starting in the fall of 2020.

My advice for future students is to get involved in student life, even if you were not very involved in high school. Participating in clubs grew my social circle immensely, and really made my time at ECC special.

Alexis Loula '20

Associate in Science

St. Charles, IL