Each fall, greater than 1,500 first-year college students begin at Northern Illinois College in DeKalb. About half of them are the primary of their household to attend school. It’s a giant milestone for a gaggle that faces challenges not solely in making use of to highschool — however in adjusting and making it to commencement.
WBEZ’s Lisa Kurian Philip spoke with a kind of first-year college students, Jayla Ward, as she was getting ready to transition to varsity life this fall. She shared her private story, which has been edited for readability and brevity.
I’m an upcoming freshman at Northern Illinois College. I’m going to be majoring in advertising and marketing.
My mother doesn’t need the infant fowl to exit of the nest, so she’s low-key actually unhappy about it. I’m her solely little one. It’s simply been me and her all my life. So she simply doesn’t know the way to not mother.
I’m going to go away a bunch of sticky notes round the home with random messages. In order that manner for the primary couple of days, perhaps weeks relying on how good I conceal a few the sticky notes, she’s going to open numerous issues after which see little notes left by me. She’s going to open the air fryer, and the be aware’s going to say, ‘I want I used to be having a few of this.’
I graduated from Ridgewood Excessive Faculty [in Norridge], however for almost all of my highschool profession I went to Proviso East [in Maywood]. We needed to transfer final minute [before my senior year] … and I couldn’t hold going to Proviso East as a result of it’d be like an hour drive.
I used to be positively extra concerned at Proviso so far as golf equipment and stuff. That’s how I acquired the chance to be part of Inexperienced Halo Students [an organization that helps low-income students in Chicago’s western suburbs to and through college].
I’m [the first in my family to go to college], in order that’s fairly nerve-wracking as a result of I don’t know what to anticipate. They will’t give me some phrases of knowledge as a result of they haven’t gone.
I used to be making use of to a complete bunch of out-of-state colleges. I wished to go away. I’m telling you: I simply wished to discover.
In my head, I’m like, ‘I’m gonna get a full journey. I acquired all these golf equipment, all this group service, I acquired good grades. These colleges are gonna need me, proper? They’re gonna be preventing for me.’
I acquired accepted. It’s simply once I noticed how a lot they had been charging. … I used to be identical to, ‘Oh, guess I’m staying at dwelling.’
When it got here down to selecting a school, I used to be very spontaneous in every part that I used to be doing. Initially, I dedicated to DePaul College. I used to be identical to, ‘I’m going to have higher job alternatives if I’m going to DePaul.’ DePaul gave me sufficient [financial aid] to be a commuter pupil.
And I freaked out final minute, as a result of I used to be like, ‘Oh my God, if I lose my scholarship, I must pay $62,000 a 12 months. That’s like generational debt.’
I used to be seeing folks purchase their dorm stuff and considering, ‘That ought to be me.’ And I used to be identical to, ‘If I’m this upset about it, and if it’s taking this a lot of a toll on me, I simply want to modify to Northern Illinois College.’ It’s the most affordable, and I get to dwell on campus, and so they acquired a superb enterprise college — works for me.
I really feel like I owe [Green Halo Director Sara Yelich Miller] a lot as a result of with out her and her assist, I wouldn’t know what I used to be doing. I used to be going rogue regardless. However her steerage and her assist — it’s what I wanted.
Earlier this summer season, Jayla moved in along with her uncle’s household in Lee, Illinois, a city close to DeKalb and NIU’s campus.
I simply need you to think about cornfields down the road. I’ve a neighbor with cows, and I’m at the moment taking a look at windmills.
I wished to discover a job earlier than all these folks come to varsity and steal the roles. One factor about me: I don’t like being broke. I’ve had a part-time job for the reason that second I turned 16.
Jayla discovered a job at Goodwill and has already began working 25 to 30 hours per week. As soon as college begins, she’ll be balancing her new job with courses and finding out — and an unpaid advertising and marketing internship with NIU’s athletic division.
Honestly, I actually want I may simply stop my job and give attention to this internship. However I’ve to assist myself.
I’ve all these massive goals and these massive aspirations, however I simply don’t suppose I’m gonna have the time for all of it … . I’m simply gonna attempt to do essentially the most that I can.
I’m so prepared. I’m prepared to speak to folks. I’m shifting in a day earlier than my roommate, so once I get my stuff settled, I’m going to go away my door open for anyone who looks like strolling in and saying hello.
Lisa Kurian Philip covers increased training for WBEZ, in partnership with Open Campus. Observe her on Twitter @LAPhilip.
