Ainsley Grant

Ainsley Grant is an elementary education major from Lansing, IL

Hometown: Lansing, IL

High School: Thornton Fractional South High School

Year: Expected graduation: spring 2028

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
I received the NIU Presidential Scholarship. I received this scholarship as a result of my outstanding work in high school and my involvement in my hometown community. I was president of the National Honor Society and secretary of Future Teacher's Club, and I dabbled in many other activities here and there. I have also been a Girl Scout for 13 years and have served as a tour guide at the Lansing Historical Society for seven years. The financial support that this scholarship has provided has made attending college possible for me. While applying to colleges in high school, cost was the major deciding factor for me. Thanks to my Presidential Scholarship, I can enjoy college to the fullest of my abilities in an environment I feel wanted and appreciated in. I am beyond grateful to have been given this opportunity and am having a wonderful time here on campus.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
Growing up, I wanted to be a teacher. I spent a great deal of my free time volunteering throughout my K-12 career and grew to love having the ability to teach others about the things that interested me. I was very proud to be able to say that I had shared new knowledge with my peers. Now, as an adult, I am pursuing a major in elementary education and have added an emphasis in bilingual education with a minor in Spanish.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
My major is elementary education and my minor is psychology. I decided on this course of study because I have always loved working with children and wanted to make a career out of it. Even though teaching is not the most high-paying career there is, I wanted to choose something I knew was going to make me happy. Since I have been teaching for many years already in a variety of volunteer positions and knew I loved it, I decided elementary education was the right fit for me. I decided to add on a psychology minor because I believed it would help me to better understand my students and help them the best I could. I am also considering returning to school after I get my bachelor's degree to receive a degree in school psychology. I have always found psychology fascinating, and it would still allow me to work with children, a win-win situation for me. While my future plans are still undecided, I cannot wait to begin my work as an elementary school teacher.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
Something I have found pleasantly surprising at NIU is the sheer number of opportunities to get involved. As a freshman student, it is both exciting and nerve-wracking to have so many things to do and so many opportunities to pursue. Going into college, I knew there would be things to do and get involved in, but I never could have imagined how many opportunities I would be presented with. Having so many options definitely adds to the tight-knit community feeling here on campus, as it is heartwarming to see so many people pursuing their dreams and connecting with others who share similar interests. I cannot wait to explore as many of these opportunities as possible through my next three years here.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
I have connected with other students in a variety of ways in my time on campus. One method I have used is social media. Before I even moved onto campus, I published a short bio on an Instagram account for the NIU graduating class of 2028. I was able to reach out to many new students that way and even had friends before I moved in. This helped immensely with the anxiety that comes with going away to college. Another method I used was attending club meetings. By attending club meetings, I was able to connect with other people who shared my interests. This is a great method for meeting people outside one's major, as one can meet people they otherwise would not interact with in classes.

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?
The organization that I have been the most involved with is the University Honors Program. This program has been invaluable to my university experience. Going into college, I was very timid and anxious. Despite this, after having interacted with individuals in the honors community and having attended events, I have gained new confidence I did not know I had. I am also living in honors housing, where I have met some of my best friends. Without the honors program, I don't know where I would be.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The NIU resource that has been the most helpful to me has been Counseling and Consultation Services. As someone who has suffered from persistent anxiety for the majority of my life, going to college was a big, terrifying change for me. Despite this, having the opportunity to talk to other people in the same situation as me and learning I was not alone helped me to overcome these feelings. While I still have instances of these feelings, I know how to manage them and how to help get myself back on track.

What Honors Program opportunities or support have helped you get closer to your academic or career goals so far?
The honors support that has helped me most with achieving my academic goals has been the advising services. Because of the many requirements that need to be satisfied to graduate, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to determine when to take what classes. By working with the advisors, however, the class selection process becomes much more manageable and significantly less anxiety-inducing, allowing you to focus on your current classes while being confident that you know what the next step is.

What do you enjoy the most about the Honors Program?
My favorite aspect of the Honors Program is the sense of community it fosters. By participating in events like the weekly Honors Night and attending Honors Engaged experiences, I can connect with other members of the honors community while participating in an activity I enjoy. When I am at an honors event, the interactions never feel forced, and the environment is very warm and welcoming. I attribute a great deal of my quick adjustment to college to the warmness of the honors community.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
One of my favorite instructors thus far was Dr. Tyler Wood, who taught Honors Seminar 310: The Fallacy of Medical TV Dramas. I appreciated Dr. Wood's style of teaching. He allowed for discussion but also gave ample opportunity for independent work. He would lecture but also provide visuals for us to watch and interpret on our own. Overall, I felt that the class was very balanced. I would even venture to say it has been my favorite class at NIU so far.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
I feel that by attending class regularly, I have gotten the full academic experience that college has to offer. While I have not had perfect attendance (as I would have liked to), I think attending class allows students to connect with the material and learn in a way that is not possible solely online. By going to class, I am given the opportunity to not only learn the material from the professor, but I can participate in discussions and learn more about those around me. I feel I can achieve a deeper level of understanding that is not possible if one is not willing to attend physical in-person meetings.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
My favorite spot on campus is the art building. While I may be an education major, there is nothing I love more than seeing all of the works created by my peers. There is something so magical about being able to work in a place filled with labors of love created by those around me. While many of them are created by people I have never met and may never meet, I can catch little glimpses of these artists' personalities and lives through the art placed with care along the hallways.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
The advice I would give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to would be to look for a place that feels comfortable. Of course, location and cost are important factors, but if the school you choose doesn't feel like a safe and welcoming environment for you, your college experience will not be something you look back on fondly. I chose the college I wanted to attend based on how comfortable I felt, and I can say with absolute certainty that I made the correct choice.

Why is a college education important to you?
A college education is important to me because it will allow me to pursue my dream of becoming an educator. I have always wanted to teach, and by attending NIU, I will be given the proper skills and licensure to realize that dream. While I cannot wait to have my own classroom, the journey to get there has been wonderful, and I am excited to be on campus for the next three years.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
To manage my time, I use a variety of different scheduling and planning resources. Between school, friends and family, I have a great deal to keep track of. For events with my friends and family, I use Google Planner. For my schoolwork, I have painstakingly created an Excel spreadsheet complete with every assignment of the semester and when they are due. When deciding how I should split my time, I aim for a one-to-one ratio. For example, if I spend an hour on an assignment, I try to spend an hour with friends or family. This allows me to get work done when I need to, but also have time to decompress and spend time with those I love.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I stay informed about campus events by following a variety of Instagram pages and paying attention to the flyers posted all around campus. By following Instagram pages, I can keep track of the various student organizations and NIU departments and what they are up to. If an event that looks interesting to me comes up, I can be notified about it almost immediately. The posted flyers are also a great resource because they often offer a calendar of upcoming events so I can plan out what I want to attend well in advance. One of the best parts of being at college is participating in such activities, so I do my best to stay up to date on what is happening when.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
To relax, I like to spend time in the lounge area of my dorm. I live in the honors housing in Patterson Hall West, so I have cluster-style living. When I am not at an event or doing homework, I like to relax on the couch and watch television or work on a personal project. I also oftentimes spend time with my cluster mates, whom I have grown close to over the last several months. Though I have been particularly busy the last couple of weeks, I look forward to our next hangout together.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
In my free time, I do a great deal of volunteering. Over the last several months I have volunteered at Coolidge Elementary School, Memorial Junior High School, my local Girl Scout Troop, the Lansing Historical Society and the Community Closet of Steger. I enjoy helping where I can, when I can. I also do a great deal of sewing. I find the repetitive action soothing and enjoy making small stuffed animals and other items for those close to me.