Taylor Akins

Taylor Akins is a health sciences major from Forreston, IL

Hometown: Forreston, IL

High School: Forreston Jr./Sr. High School

Year: Expected graduation: spring 2026

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
I have received the Kovacevich scholarship and the NIU merit scholarship for this year. I received the Kovacevich scholarship through the NIU Honors Program, and I received the NIU merit scholarship for my performance in high school; I graduated with a 4.07 GPA in high school. These scholarships have helped me tremendously through college. They allow me to have a college experience and be able to do fun things instead of worrying about money. I am on the equestrian team here at NIU, and having financial support from NIU has allowed me to focus on paying for competitions and practices, and for that I am incredibly grateful.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
I always knew I wanted to do something in health care. I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do, and I still don't have it completely figured out, but I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s in health sciences, so I am getting closer and closer every day!

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am a health sciences major with a statistics minor. I decided on this course of study because I have always known I wanted to do something related to health care.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
Something I've found pleasantly surprising here at NIU is the community! There's always something going on where you can meet new people, and making friends in my classes is one of my favorite parts of the beginning of the semester. We're all in the same boat, and we all just want to meet new friends and learn together!

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
I prefer to sit in the same spot in my classes every day, like most other students. Eventually you will start to recognize the people sitting next to you every day, and from there you can team up for group work or decide to meet up to study before exams. I've also met friends in classes by recognizing them from somewhere else on campus or a mutual friend and deciding to be study buddies from there.

Are you involved in any student organizations, mentoring programs or extra-curricular activities? If so, which ones? How have they added to your experience as a Huskie?
I am on the equestrian team here at NIU. This team has broadened my horizons to no end. I've met so many cool people and been able to travel to so many places and ride so many awesome horses. The team makes me proud to be a Huskie!

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
I've always felt supported and accepted by the University Honors Program. As a freshman, I found the honors requirements to be super confusing, but someone in the honors department was always happy to schedule a meeting or a phone call to help me out. There are always events going on to meet new people and get to know those in the honors department, and it's always been so welcoming.

What Honors Program opportunities or support have helped you get closer to your academic or career goals so far?
I think the most helpful part of honors has been the advising appointments. There is always someone to talk you through any part of college you may be struggling with, and every time I speak with someone in the honors building, I feel overwhelming support from everyone there!

What do you enjoy the most about the Honors Program?
I love that there are so many opportunities for honors students that aren't offered to non-honors students, like early registration and the honors lounge. The Honors Program always makes us feel so welcome and special.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
My favorite professor so far has been Melina Baer, my English 350 professor. I was going through a super rough time the semester I took her class, and one of our weekly assignments were these journals where we would write about how our week was. Every week I would essentially just talk about my feelings, and those journals quickly turned into a way for me to vent. Melina always offered an ear for me to vent to and would occasionally check in to make sure I was doing OK.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
I notice that I have to do less work outside of class to succeed. When I don't attend class regularly, I have to learn the material and study it. When I do attend class regularly, I'm already learning the material during class; I just have to study it outside of class.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
My favorite spot on campus is Cast Iron Coffee. I love the soft lighting, the music and just the general vibes there. I especially love it super early in the morning, as there's usually a couple of people there talking about something or other, so there's a little bit of background noise, there's a little bit of soft music to help me focus, and it just creates a great environment for getting stuff done.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
Visit as many colleges as you can! I feel like I really limited my options by only looking at three colleges, all within a couple hours from home. I wish I had done more research and really felt out what I liked before deciding where to apply.

Why is a college education important to you?
Every career I've ever considered has required a college education of some kind, so I've always known I would go to college. I also know that every lifestyle I want to live requires a good job, and I knew that college would give me the boost I needed for a decent-paying job.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
I always try to balance doing something not-so-fun with something fun. If I spend an entire day getting homework done, I get a day to relax. When motivation gets really low toward the end of the semester, if I do one assignment I've been dreading, I get to spend five minutes doing a puzzle or something. I think it's all about balance and spacing the hard stuff out with fun stuff, like friends, family and fun activities.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I'm always on campus doing homework or up to shenanigans with friends, and I try to pay attention to flyers that are around. I also stay up to date on emails, and friends and acquaintances are always asking me to come to events their organizations are hosting.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I like to watch movies with friends, ride horses or just have me time watching a show in my bedroom.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
I work three jobs; I work reception at the barn I ride at, I do chores for a local vet, and I teach horse-riding lessons to little kids back home when I have time. I also try to ride as much as I can, so a few times a week you can usually catch me on a horse. I also love to read, but during school I don't have much time for that.