Chyna Bennett

Chyna Bennett is a speech-language pathology graduate student from Chicago Heights, IL

Hometown: Chicago Heights, IL

Year: Expected graduation: 2025

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
I received an Honors Program waiver, AIM High FR Excellence Scholarship, Izzo-Inge Family Fund (21-22), Foundation Impact Scholarship (21-22), Fanny Ruth Patterson Scholarship (22-23), Cletus G. Fisher Scholarship (23-24) and the A. Tremblay Chiricotti Scholarship (24-25). I received these scholarships because of being in the Honors Program, because of the GPA I held coming into my freshman year in 2019, and because of the work I put into being a Huskie. Each year of my academic career I have received NIU scholarships, which has allowed me to stay in school. I would strongly encourage all students to apply as much and as soon as possible. As a graduate student, I have continued to have the blessing and honor of scholarships to help finance the two years of schooling I have.

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 wanted to be an actress, then an orthodontist, then a speech-language pathologist, then an audiologist and then a teacher for the D/deaf and H/hard of hearing. Now, I have circled back to wanting to be a speech-language pathologist. It was a tough decision to make, but I know this is the right path for me. I have my mom and professors to thank for helping me figure out this part of my life. 

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
As a graduate student, I don’t have a "major," per se. The program that I am getting my second degree in is speech-language pathology. This is part of the School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders. My mom is my biggest supporter who helped me recognize this was the career for me. It is also important to me that people can use language to be able to express their wants and needs, but most importantly, for them to protect themselves and have their "no" be honored.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
The amount of people I have met and connected with. I didn't think I was going to be able to connect with anyone or make friends because orientation was rough for me, but I’ve since done a 180 turn and seen how much there is out there for me when I branch out. It has also been a nice environment to learn how to find my voice and the importance of my story, too.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
I made sure to be involved on campus! From my freshman year in 2019 to now, getting involved or even asking someone if they want to be friends has helped in making various connections.

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?
During undergrad, I was very involved in student organizations on campus! I was involved in Signing Huskies as the vice president for two years, First Year Composition Committee (FYCC) as the student advisor, Communicative Disorders Student Association (COMDSA) as a member and on the e-board as historian, Forensics as a member, Cru as a member, and as a sister of Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. These organizations have allowed me to make connections, learn who I am as a person, build my resume, gain experiences and have more memories and fun on NIU's campus!

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you succeed? And how?
The NIU Foundation and the Disability Resource Center. They both have been such a family on and off campus. They saw potential in me that others didn’t and continued to push me in the most loving way.

What Honors Program opportunities or support have helped you get closer to your academic or career goals so far?
During my undergrad years, the Honors Program supported me financially in more ways than I could imagine. As someone who needs financial support, the Honors Program never failed to step in and help me in that regard, which allowed me to stay focused on my academics and not feel stressed out about money. 

What do you enjoy the most about the Honors Program?
I enjoy the connections I have made. The Honors Program has allowed me to make friends with common interests and goals and has pushed me to continue to work hard as a student. I like how it connects students from so many different majors and backgrounds all with a common goal of succeeding beyond their expectations. Additionally, the Honors Program has built a community of connections I’ll have for a lifetime, and I cannot wait to see how it grows over time. 

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
Professor Hoffman. Since my freshman year, he has been someone who has looked out for me in so many areas, including mentally and emotionally. He always made sure I was okay and checked up on me. He took the time to be himself and build a relationship with his students. He catered to his audience and made sure we understood. He’s a very genuine professor who students should take if they ever get the chance. I'll always be grateful for the ways he's helped me through the years. 

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
I have benefited from making great connections with my classmates and my professors. By knowing my classmates, it has helped me to not feel alone when classes have become hard. By knowing my professors and having a relationship with them, it has allowed me to have several great opportunities that I could never have seen coming, such as First Year Composition Committee (FYCC), letters of recommendation and being able to speak in their other classes. Attending class regularly also helped me have a relationship with classmates and professors, so I could ask for help in the moments where I was struggling or needed a break.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
I used to say the rock garden by Reavis Hall. It's so calming and peaceful. Many people on campus don't know about it but it is truly a "magical" place to be. It just allows your mind to go to another place for a few moments, which is great. Now, my favorite spot on campus is the trail by the lagoon. I love seeing the mural under the bridge and the tree that has animals carved into it. It all reminds me of my favorite show, “Once Upon a Time,” and my dog loves it there!

What advice would you give to a student who is applying to colleges?
Understand that if you don't know who you are before college, you should begin that journey. Don't go into college not knowing who you are or what drives you. Then, you should know yourself inside and out by the end of your college career, and it will be the best feeling, I can tell you that! Don’t allow your fear, self-doubt, outside noise, etc. to get in the way of your future.

Coming to college, what is something that you have had to learn to do differently?
I have learned to change the way I view the world and everything in it. I have learned to not think of everything as so black and white. College has allowed me to learn to think in a gray area of sorts and how to work with that, and I am forever grateful for it. I’ve also had to learn what battles are worth fighting and which are not, as well as to never allow those who are “superior” to me convince me that wrong is right.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
There’s a variety of things I enjoy that help me relax and recharge! I love spending time with the Lord, talking with my mom, family and friends, playing with my dog, watching my favorite shows (“Once Upon a Time” and “Criminal Minds”) and lots of naps! I have also had to learn the importance of boundaries and protecting my peace. For example, I try to not email or respond to email after 5 p.m.