Emma Robison

Emma Robison is a finance major from Island Lake, IL

Hometown: Island Lake, IL

High School: Wauconda High School

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 have received the NIU merit scholarship since my freshman year. This scholarship is based on my academic success, so it helps motivate me to continue doing well in my classes. I also received the Breitzke Endowed Scholarship and the Lois Hobart Endowed Scholarship. These scholarships are based on my success and enrollment in the College of Business. The financial support has helped me focus more on school and less on the financial burden college can cause.

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 vet, but soon realized blood made me squeamish. Though I enjoy helping animals, my stomach is just not strong enough. The amount of school also played a factor in my decision. After some thought, I recognized what I found appealing was being my own boss. Since vets often have their own clinics, I began to enjoy the idea of being a vet again. I found comfort in the business path because I could open my own business.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
My major is finance because I believe strong finances make a strong business. Basically, money is the backbone of a business; without an inflow of money, a business cannot thrive. So, I chose a major that will set my future business up for success.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
I was surprised by all the clubs NIU has to offer. There is truly a club for everyone!

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
I have met some wonderful people in my classes, and some even became my best friends. We asked for each other’s social media during class and the rest was history.

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 was in the honors mentoring program. It helped me meet other students in the program as well as a mentor who could answer my questions about the honors program.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you succeed? And how?
The finance department has been a major help, specifically my advisors. My advisors have helped me reach my goals and make my future goals possible. They give me multiple tools I can use to succeed.

What Honors Program opportunities or support have helped you get closer to your academic or career goals so far?
I have taken advantage of honors courses and honors engaged experiences. I currently have reached my goal of associate honors and want to continue to full honors.

What do you enjoy the most about the Honors Program?
I enjoy the early registration for classes. In the fall and spring semesters, classes fill up fast, so the early registration helps me get the classes I need for my major. Without early registration, the classes I need could fill up and I could be set back a semester.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
My favorite professor was Dr. Jason Gorham. He taught my Business in Action class, which involved consulting for a real business. Dr. Gorham was extremely understanding with homework and answered email in a timely manner. This class made me consider going into consulting for a future job.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
Attending class regularly has given me the chance to fully understand and apply the knowledge I gain from the course. I also gain connections with my professors, so getting help or asking questions becomes less daunting.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
My favorite spot on campus is Einstein Bagels because it is the perfect place to get a quick snack in between classes with friends.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
Pick the college that has the most pros in your eyes. Some pros for me were price and proximity to family. NIU fit both of those categories while others did not, so my choice became a little simpler after focusing on my pros.

Why is a college education important to you?
A college education is important to me because of the opportunities that come with education. Many jobs in today's society require degrees, and many jobs will pay employees with degrees more money.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
I use a calendar to help manage my time. It gives me a visual for how I need to use my time. For school I use a Google spreadsheet and put all my deadlines into the sheet. I then delete the assignments as I complete them. At the end of the semester, it brings me joy to see how 100-plus assignments comes down to zero.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I stay informed about events and services on campus by checking my email. My college, the College of Business, sends out a weekly email that outlines the events available for the week. The honors program and the NIU newspaper also send out weekly emails about the events/services on campus.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
Since I have no classes on Friday, I like to make that my relaxation day. So, my Fridays are usually filled with sleeping in, reading and watching movies.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
I currently work for the Illinois Tutoring Initiative. This means I tutor children at elementary schools in DeKalb.