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My name is Chioma and I am from Nigeria. I am currently a biology/pre-nursing major at Elgin Community College (ECC). I chose to study at ECC because it offered me the opportunity to get the first two years of college at a relatively cheaper rate. It also provided a chance to grow accustomed to the United States of America in a smaller setting. Student support services for international students on my campus include the Center for Global Engagement, which is a one-stop office for everything international students need to get settled properly in the United States. This includes opening a bank account, obtaining a driver’s license and many more. The office also organizes an excursion trip every semester for the international students to visit popular areas in the Chicagoland area.
Another great support system is the United Students of All Cultures (USAC) club on my campus, where all international students are welcome to be a part of. The club breeds the sense of togetherness among the international students who are already far from home.
As earlier stated, starting out at a community college helps financially to reduce the cost of acquiring a US tertiary education. Highlights of my community college experience include being on the President’s honors list which is a compilation of students with a term grade point average of 4.00, in addition to winning the International Street Fair Competition with my club, Black Students Achievers. The International Street Fair Competition is held annually at ECC during International Education Week where all the school clubs and organizations showcase the cultures from different countries of the world. My club represented Jamaica.
Chioma Echefu
Elgin Community College