Shivani Patel

Shivani Patel is a nursing major from Hoffman Estates, IL

Hometown: Hoffman Estates, IL

High School: Hoffman Estates High School

Year: Expected graduation: Spring 2029

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
I received the Presidential Scholarship based on merit. The financial impact has made my entire experience at NIU possible in the first place. Having this scholarship has lifted the enormous burden of student loans, which leaves me with more time and energy to put toward my education. I have been able to explore my interests and hobbies and further my academics more than I have ever been able to in the past.

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 was always interested in the medical field. My mom worked as a nursing assistant, and I loved visiting the hospital with her. From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a healthcare worker like my mom. Now, I am still pursuing my childhood dream job as a nursing major.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am majoring in nursing. Throughout high school, I volunteered in a hospital. I would spend the majority of my shift surrounded by the most kind and welcoming nurses. My experience volunteering was positive, which is what inspired me to look into nursing as a potential career. I took some healthcare coursework, such as anatomy, medical terminology and AP Bio, and I felt like the content came naturally to me. Over the summer I got my CNA (certified nursing assistant) license. Seeing how the nurses at Rush Hospital treated my family and I when my dad was going through cancer really solidified my interest in nursing.

Have you conducted your own research through Research Rookies, Honors capstones or theses or any other faculty-guided research opportunity? Tell us about the research you are doing and why it interests you.
Yes. I am currently working on a literature review exploring how diet and gut microbiome impact pain. Many people have heard the recent uproar about the gut microbiome, especially from health-conscious social media influencers. Sometimes the information you hear from health influencers online isn’t trustworthy. So, I have taken the time to research this topic on my own. I am interested in the subject because it applies to everyone. Whether it’s the diet of a senior eating nursing home meals or the diet of a student eating cafeteria lunch, it is important to watch your diet and learn how it impacts your health.

How has conducting research strengthened your education and experience at NIU?
Conducting research is a totally unique experience that has strengthened my skills as a student. I’ve done the typical high school research paper before. But conducting research at NIU is a whole new experience. I am free to conduct research on any topic that interests me, which has encouraged me to find a research question in mundane subjects I usually wouldn’t give a second thought to. Additionally, research has taught me how to make use of library databases, how to reach out to professors and how to meet deadlines.

How will your research experience help you in the future?
Through my research with Research Rookies, I have learned countless soft skills I will continue to apply in my education and future career. However, the greatest benefit I’ve gained from my research is the connections I’ve made with professors and other students. These connections have opened so many doors of opportunity for future research.

Who at NIU has been important to your success doing research and why?
My research mentor, Dr. Anitha Saravanan, has been an amazing mentor and friend throughout the program. She is very knowledgeable about her field, and I am lucky to have her as my mentor.

What advice would you give to an incoming student as it relates to research at NIU?
Everyone talks about research all the time, but no one really knows quite what it entails. That’s because research looks different from project to project or major to major. If you have an interest, I can assure you that research can be done on it. I think everyone can learn something from doing research. Research Rookies is a great way to get started because they walk you through the process step by step.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
I find myself busy all the time. Because NIU is in a suburb, many people would assume that there isn’t much to do. However, that couldn’t be more wrong. NIU’s Campus Activities Board (CAB) is always hosting fun events, and there is always something to do on campus. Since I arrived here, I find myself exploring new places and making amazing memories with my friends every single day.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
Many of my friendships have been made by putting myself out there. Sometimes you just want to stay in your dorm all day, but if you force yourself to go to events you will find so many connections. During the first week of school, I went to all the welcome events and found so many friendships that have lasted. I’ve also formed great friendships with the people living on my floor, and it makes dorm life so fun!

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 involved in the Honors Program, the Bhakti Meditation Club and Research Rookies. These experiences have helped me meet new people and try new things.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
Several offices at NIU have helped me feel supported throughout my college experience. The Honors Program has provided academic guidance and opportunities that push me to challenge myself. The Asian American Resource Center (AARC) has also been a great resource. Having access to supportive faculty and campus resources has made it easier for me to stay focused on my goals and feel confident in my academic journey.

What Honors Program opportunities or support have helped you get closer to your academic or career goals so far?
One of my favorite Honors Program benefits is the early course registration. A lot of the classes required for my major fill up fast. Having this early registration date has helped me secure all my pre-req courses for nursing school.

What do you enjoy the most about the Honors Program?
One of the things I enjoy most about the Honors Program is the sense of community it creates among motivated students. Being surrounded by peers who are dedicated to their academics encourages me to push myself and stay focused on my goals.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
I am currently taking Anatomy (BIOS 357), a course known for being difficult, but I love it because of my professor, Dr. Christina Cline. The lectures are so helpful, and she is always willing to explain topics I’m confused about. Dr. Cline makes anatomy so fun!

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
I’ve tried to make it a habit to attend classes because skipping class once really is a slippery slope. Attending class regularly has helped me stay on track with my classes and reduced my workload outside of class. If I attend class and pay attention, I spend less time outside of class trying to understand the content. Plus, the homework is usually based on the class content, so attending class makes it easier to complete my homework.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
I try to stay out of my dorm during the day, and my favorite place to go is the Holmes Student Center. It’s a central space within campus, and it’s always a great place to meet up with friends, grab food and socialize. Not only is it great for fun, there are also some great study spots!

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
When applying to colleges, I already had an idea of which schools I could imagine myself attending. Of course, it is good to know what you like in a school, but it’s good to stay open-minded. I never really considered NIU one of my top priority schools; however, now that I’m here, I couldn’t imagine myself going anywhere else. Keep your options open, go on tours and explore schools that are unfamiliar to you. You’ll never know where you belong if you don’t explore!

Why is a college education important to you?
A college education is very important to me because I’m a first-generation college student. My parents never got the opportunity to attend college, and my whole life they told me to focus on school. I have a natural passion for learning new things, and I love my major, which makes me enjoy school so much more.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
At first, I really had no clue how to maintain balance in my life. One of the strategies that really helped was staying out of my dorm during the day. I try to get out of my dorm by 9 a.m. and stay out until at least 3 p.m. Even if I only have one class that day, I force myself to go to the library or student center to complete my work. This means I’m usually done with schoolwork by 3 p.m. and have the rest of the day to hang out with friends or call family.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I keep a close eye on my email to learn about events and services on campus. I usually get newsletters from the Northern Star, the honors program and other activities I’m part of. I also follow NIU’s Instagram pages and find a lot of information about events on the CAB’s Instagram.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
College is a whole new experience, and it can get tiring at times. When I feel overwhelmed, I like to take a nap, go on a walk, watch a movie and get fast food. I also like to spend time with my friends doing something fun to take my mind off schoolwork for a bit. It’s so important to take a break sometimes because you shouldn’t overwork yourself.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
I brought my scrapbook to college, and I love to document my experiences by scrapbooking. I also brought my ukulele, and I enjoy learning and creating songs.