Anastasia Monica

Anastasia Monica is a transfer English major from Kirkland, IL

Hometown: Kirkland, IL

High School: Hiawatha Jr./Sr. High School (Kirkland)

Year: Expected graduation: 2025

Minor: Japanese studies 

Why did you choose to attend NIU?
It has a Japanese language program and is close to my hometown.

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
I received the transfer merit scholarship, federal grants and various small writing awards. It certainly has been helpful to have less debt to worry about.

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 didn't really think about my future before high school; when I got to high school, I started looking toward engineering and the sciences. I did briefly major in engineering at a different university, but I am now looking to enter publishing.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I have an English major and Japanese studies minor. I chose English because it was the one subject I have always felt confident in; I chose Japanese because the language fascinates me.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
I have liked how easy it is to connect with even professors I don't have classes with; for example, I have spoken in casual settings with multiple leaders of CLAS and the English department.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
A lot of my connections came from participating in student organizations — such as the Northern Star or Sigma Tau Delta — and getting to know repeat classmates (people who I shared classes with for multiple semesters).

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 participated long-term in the Northern Star newspaper, the Foreign Language Residence Program and Sigma Tau Delta. I attended several meetings for the Archery and ASL clubs, and I went to one or two meetings for the Anthropology Club. Classes can sometimes get a bit monotonous, so club meetings or events can help keep things interesting — they also help me engage with campus life. I am a commuter student, so clubs were my main anchor into community-building.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The Disability Resource Center and the Department of English were my main contacts, and they kept in contact with me to try and accommodate my personal struggles.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
I think my favorite professor I have had at NIU was Dr. Timothy Ryan. He taught ENGL 333 (American Literature), which was a class I was somewhat dreading. I ended up enjoying that class purely because of his teaching style and passion for the topic, and he also gave me some of the best feedback on my writing I had received in nearly six years.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
We often covered material and/or critiques in my classes, so it was useful when I was struggling to keep up. Also, it does help to have at least one part of your grade that you know you have an A in.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
It has to be one of the libraries or the WLLC. The Founders Memorial Library and the World Languages Learning Center are both great places to study (the latter is especially nice if you have a lot of humanities classes), and the DeKalb Public Library has a nice variety of recreational reading (and free printing).

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
Make sure they have the program you are looking for, especially if it's a somewhat niche one. Also, take a look at the community around the campus and the public transit system. Make sure you have constant easy access to medical care! Finally, look up the colleges on social media and see what current students say about them.

Why is a college education important to you?
Most career paths absolutely require a bachelor's degree. My dad actually told me that even though he's been working at his job for around 15 years, he's as highly promoted as he can be without a degree. People who have worked there for two years are his supervisors because they have degrees.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
I schedule basically everything. Spontaneous plans are a thing of the past.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I check the events boards in DuSable, Reavis and Holmes.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
Online jigsaw puzzles, going on walks and vibing at my local park are my go-tos.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
I currently work as a Northern Ambassador (NIU tour guide), and I am an artist. I also sometimes write short prose or poetry when the mood strikes me.