Adrienne Chinski

Adrienne Chinski is a psychology major from Bourbonnais, IL

Hometown: Bourbonnais, IL

High School: Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School

Year: Expected graduation: Fall 2026

What is your major (and/or minor), and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am majoring in psychology and minoring in counseling and sociology. I chose this course of study because I am passionate about helping people and I want to become a mental health therapist. Learning about psychology, society and mental health counseling at NIU has made me even more excited to pursue a career in mental health care.

Tell us about the research you are conducting at NIU: what it involves, why it interests you and who has been important to your success along the way.
I have conducted research on socioeconomic status mindset through the Anxiety Disorders Research Lab at NIU. My research has explored how students' beliefs about their socioeconomic status impact their academic performance and particularly how this relationship works for first-generation college students. This subject interests me because I am a first-generation student and I have had the privilege of meeting a lot of other first-generation students from various walks of life who have all been incredibly dedicated students. Dr. David Valentiner has been a wonderful mentor to me throughout the process of conducting this research and completing my honors thesis.

How has conducting research strengthened your experience at NIU, and how do you expect it to help you in the future?
Conducting research has helped me develop important skills such as finding academic articles, interpreting data and graphs, and communicating research findings. I have used these skills for assignments in my courses at NIU, and they will continue to be helpful in graduate school and in my career.

What has genuinely surprised you about your experience at NIU?
Something that surprised me about NIU was the number of resources available to students. The Writing Center, Career Services, Huskie Academic Success Center and free counseling services are all very valuable and helpful, and they are so easy to find and access. Every student can benefit from at least one of these resources.

Are you involved in student organizations, mentoring programs or extracurricular activities? If so, which ones, and how have they shaped your experience as a Huskie?
Last year I was a peer health educator for the NIU wellness crew. In this position I got to learn about various aspects of mental and physical wellness and share this information with other NIU students. I also helped facilitate weekly events designed to promote student wellness such as Procrastination Cafe and Crafting Connections. As a peer health educator, I had the privilege of talking to so many different NIU students and helping them feel empowered to be their happiest, healthiest selves. This experience helped me feel so much more connected to NIU and my fellow Huskies, and it solidified my desire to go into a helping profession.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel supported and successful, and how?
The NIU Writing Center has been very helpful for me, especially in my writing-infused classes. Getting feedback on my essays from the tutors always makes me feel more confident in my work. The Honors Program has also been very supportive of my success. The honors advisors have provided valuable guidance to me as I have worked my way through the requirements for full honors.

Who has been a favorite instructor or professor, and what did they teach? What made them memorable?
One of my favorite professors is Dr. Laura Heideman in the Department of Sociology and Criminology. I took her Social Movements class and her Peace and Social Justice After Wars and Atrocities class. Both of these classes taught me a lot about the world and helped me develop a sociological frame of mind to interpret news stories, politics and global events.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community, and why are you drawn to it?
My favorite spot on campus is the East Lagoon. Since my first year at NIU I have been going to the lagoon during breaks between classes, weekends and lunch breaks. I'm drawn to the lagoon because it is a peaceful place and I love spending time in nature.

How has NIU helped you find your community or your sense of belonging here?
NIU has helped me connect with other academic-minded peers who have inspired me to keep striving for success. Many of my friends at NIU are also pursuing graduate school, and connecting with them has made the process of researching and applying to schools less intimidating.

Why is a college education important to you?
A college education is important to me because the world is getting more and more complex every day, and having an education makes me feel more confident in my ability to understand it all.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges right now?
Consider things that are important to you in your everyday life, like what kind of dorm you want to live in and what kind of extracurricular activities you want to do. Remember that your college will be your home for four years, so it’s important to consider more than just academic programs.

How do you manage your responsibilities like school, work, family and everything else while still making the most of your time at NIU?
I like to make weekly to-do lists then separate them into daily to-do lists. This helps me make sure I use my time wisely. I also try to stick to a routine so that there's less opportunity for things to be forgotten.

What made you choose NIU over other colleges you were considering?
I was drawn to NIU because of the opportunities for students to get involved in research. Additionally, I earned an academic scholarship that made NIU the best choice for me.

What was the most important thing NIU did to help you make a successful transition into college life?
The Week of Welcome activities during my freshman year not only helped me connect with other students but also connected me with a lot of resources that helped me be successful, such as the Huskie Academic Success Center and Career Services.

How has living on campus (or commuting) shaped your experience as a Huskie? What support or resources have made that work well for you?
Living on campus has allowed me to meet so many people and make friends with a lot of the people in my building. Having easy access to dining halls has also been a massive help during my busier seasons.

What Honors Program opportunities have helped you move closer to your academic or career goals?
Completing my honors thesis was a huge step toward my academic and career goals. It helped me learn some important research skills and allowed me to get involved in research conferences that I can now include on my resume and CV.