2022 - Kristine Darvin: ECC helps students find success

The past four years of being a student have not been easy. I started my journey in the spring of 2019, and since then, many things have changed in academics. I have experienced, like many others, the struggle of online schooling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial hardships, family problems, health issues, emotional challenges, and other significant changes were all seemingly happening at the same time. Despite that, I am unbelievably overjoyed to see myself in this next phase of my life. Being a student at Elgin Community College has been a great experience.

Over the past four years, I have been allowed to make great connections with wonderful people that I have met through this community. I was able to take part in student services when I was a Spartan Leader. As a student nurse, I was able to help give COVID-19 vaccines to the public. I also volunteered at Feed My Starving Children as part of an Association of Nursing Students event. I met generous and inspiring women who mentored me through the Purses for Purpose scholarship. I am a part of TRiO, and my counselors there have helped me in more ways than they know. I was fortunate enough to participate in the production of the orientation videos that many new incoming students watch. I was recently allowed to be one of the student models used for the new Medical Assistant program ad poster.

ECC truly lives by its motto of helping its students find success. The number of opportunities I received from this college has been more than I could ever imagine. I am proud to be an ECC alum and hope to inspire others to start their college journey here at ECC.

Kristine Darvin '22
Associate in Arts
Elgin, Ill.