Passport to Learning

Before Elgin Community College, Anamika Dua’s journey began in India, where she pursued education until she turned 21. When her life trajectory shifted to building a family, her studies stopped.

Dua moved to the United States in 2014 and eventually found a job working in the ECC library. Every day, she watched students pass through, borrowing books, researching assignments, and chasing their goals. The atmosphere reignited something in her.

With her two sons now grown, Dua decided it was finally time to focus on herself. “In my culture, women often put family first,” she said. “But now that they’re older, I finally have the opportunity to continue my education.”

Returning to school after three decades wasn’t easy, but she always valued learning. “Education is an asset no one can take away,” Dua said. “Education is wealth that can never go bankrupt.”

In 2023, she enrolled part-time and took a career assessment test in the college’s Career Development Services office, discovering an interest in psychology.

“I’m especially drawn to working with young adults or children,” she said. “Supporting them with the right values and mental tools early on is like strengthening the foundation of a house; it’s essential.”

Currently, Dua is taking a philosophy class that she describes as “inspiring,” though she said she is torn between psychology and philosophy as a field of study.

Her curiosity stretched further when she learned about ECC’s study abroad opportunities. Having studied French nearly 35 years ago, the chance to travel and study in Dijon, France, captured her attention.

“It’s very important to travel because it broadens your perspective,” she said.

The four-week program blended academics with cultural immersion. Dua took Ancient and Medieval Western Humanities and elementary French, while exploring museums, city tours, Paris, and the south of France. She joined fellow ECC students and others from across the Midwest, led by a faculty liaison. In total, about 40 students participated.

For Lauren Nehlsen, PhD, an associate dean who directs global engagement, stories like Dua’s capture the heart of ECC’s study abroad mission.

“Studying abroad isn’t just about travel; it transforms how students see themselves, their communities, and their role in a global society,” Nehlsen said.

Dua embraced every moment, from exploring to sharing meals with new friends. She even managed to take a train to Switzerland.

“Honestly, I was scared,” she said, laughing. “I had printed directions in one hand, the app in the other, and a backup battery. But I kept telling myself, ‘You can do this.’”

Dua’s biggest concern was the cost. “The program was expensive,” she said. “But there’s help and there’s hope.” With scholarships, professional development funds, and reimbursements, she made it possible. Her advice now: “Do not let money be the reason you don’t apply.”

What happened in France changed more than Dua’s passport stamps. She found a new confidence and reminders of human kindness — like the farmer in Bern who returned her lost bag. After an hour of retracing her route, she spotted him waving it across a field. Everything was still inside. “I cried,” she said. “It reminded me that kindness is universal.”

So what would Dua tell an ECC student who is hesitant about studying abroad? “Say yes to the program,” she said. “It’s a bigger picture than you can see right now. You’ll be 100% present, reflecting on what you thought before, what you learned there, and how you’ve changed afterward. It becomes a part of you forever.”

The summer 2026 study abroad application deadline is February 15.