Clare Ollayos: I am 71, having fun, and still not done.

In my ECC journey thus far, I have been a student for parts of six decades, two centuries, and two millennia- so I can state with some assurance that I am a lifelong learner at ECC!

My affection and respect for Elgin Community College began in the spring semester of 1975, when I took Biology from the legendary professor Bob Steinbach. I had taken a year off after my first two years of college at Smith, preparing to transfer to a health professions program at Boston University. Much to my surprise and delight, Mr. Steinbach's teaching excellence was every bit as good as my best professors at a Seven Sisters Ivy League college.

ECC was there for me again in the early 1980s, when I was applying to the National College of Chiropractic and needed an additional Chemistry course. I was able to take it at night while working during the day as a Motor Coordination Remediation Therapist at Summit School.

In the 90's, I took a one-night non-credit Chinese cooking class with Dr. Mi Hu and Dr. Rick Mao, two now-retired Deans, making some memorable pot stickers- memorable because they were a little too dough-y.

In November of 1995, I was elected to the ECC Board of Trustees after having served as the community co-chair for the planning and opening of the Visual and Performing Arts Center, so I was very much associated with the college, but not as a student.

In the fall of 2022, I enrolled at ECC in an Introduction to Computers class taught by Dr. Susan Timm, a friend and community volunteer colleague. All my previous college experience was pre- internet, and professionally, I felt I needed to have a better understanding and use of technology in my practice, as well as to better appreciate some of the decisions we were making as trustees that impacted the student experience.

I'd been wanting to start a class for several years, but the timing just never seemed right. In March of 2019, my husband had the first of several strokes, and that was both a push for me- because he had done most of our online banking, etc.- but also an impediment, as it created additional time burdens. But that August of 2022, Dr. Timm kindly talked my ear off, had a hybrid course that fit my schedule, and I enrolled. I was a little afraid about it all, I was a professional adult that was supposed to "have it together." But the thing that I have experienced at ECC, time and time again, starting with Dr. Timm, is that the culture of ECC is to help you succeed. Demand excellence but support your journey to success.

After my computer course, I then began to take courses in health professions and biology that I could use for continuing education hours in my profession. My husband, also a chiropractic physician, had taught Bio 245 and 246 at ECC for ten years prior to his strokes, and he came back to audit the courses with me as a part of his rehab, while I took them for credit. I then decided as long as I was taking a number of courses that I would put them into a degree credential. So, that's why I am graduating with honors, Phi Theta Kappa, on December 13, 2025, with an associate in arts.

To accomplish that, I have taken full advantage of having a great advisor, the writing help of The Write Place on all my English papers, the research librarians to help me with bibliography, finding research articles and learning MLA formatting tools, and much more. Microbiology, which I had not taken in 45 years, was very challenging; because there was so much that was new in the field about viral replication, mutation and how drug treatments worked; there was a lot of new vocabulary.

I have had a challenging but very fun time with so many students of different backgrounds and experiences. It is true that everyone has a story to tell! Our different generations also made for some interesting and sometimes hilarious discussions. Studying and learning new things has also been good for my mental and emotional well-being, because I am not ruminating on life's difficulties, I'm doing something positive in the here and now with good people. I will honor my past, but want to be present in the present, and create more good things going forward.

I am 71, having fun, and still not done.

Clare M. Ollayos, D.C., ‘25

Elgin, Illinois

Associate in Arts