Brooke Schliephake

Brooke Schliephake is a psychology major from West Chicago, IL

Hometown: West Chicago, IL

High School: West Chicago Community High School

Year: Expected graduation: Spring 2028

Minors: Spanish and Latino studies

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
I received a merit scholarship. By having assistance from NIU, I was able to get through my first year of college without having to take out any loans and focus more on my education rather than working to get money for school.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
When I was growing up, I wanted to be a lot of things, from a firefighter to an astronaut. Although I didn't pursue either field, I decided to pursue a degree in psychology to be a therapist because I want to help people.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am majoring in psychology and double minoring in Spanish and Latino studies. Coming from a predominately Latino community, I want to be able to go back to my community after my education and give mental support to those in need, regardless of background.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
Something I have found pleasantly surprising about NIU are the diverse communities gathered here. I came to NIU mostly for the diversity, though there is so much more culture here than I had expected. And I think that it is beautiful.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
The best way I have been able to connect with other students with similar interests is just by getting involved. I was able to connect with several other Christian brothers and sisters through going to Cru and InterVarsity (IV). I've also been able to connect with several students through both social media and simply by just talking to strangers. Some of the most random meetings and connections are often the ones that stay with you.

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?
Yes, I am currently involved in both CRU and IV, two different Christian organizations on campus. These organizations have really helped me create deep connections with other Christians on campus and helped me manage my time. We have done study groups and focus sessions that promote a quality work ethic when it comes to our studies. Being in these organizations has really helped me feel more included on campus.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The Title IX office, the University Honors Program and the psychology department have all been really important and impactful resources that have helped me feel safer on campus and more educationally in tune. The Title IX office has helped me in creating barriers between people on campus that have made me feel uncomfortable and have pushed my boundaries. The honors department has helped keep me on track and challenged me within my courses. The psychology department has been really welcoming and helped me adjust to college life.

What Honors Program opportunities or support have helped you get closer to your academic or career goals so far?
The Honors Program has been able to offer courses that challenge me and provide quality resources for my mental health. Walking into the honors office is always so welcoming because fellows are constantly checking in on people entering. My honors advisor has also been really helpful in helping me find classes that align with things I am passionate about.

What do you enjoy the most about the Honors Program?
I love all of the events the Honors Program hosts throughout the school year. Sometimes, classes can become emotionally exhausting, so having an event to go to with like-minded people and just take a break to socialize with fellow honors students has always been one of my favorite things about the Honors Program.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
One of my favorite professors was Dr. Sandy López. Dr. López was my professor for my LATS 102 course last year. The reason Dr. López was one of my favorite professors is because she was always so genuine. I feel like many professors look down on their students because of their educational level, but Dr. López made me feel like we were equals. She was an amazing educator with knowledge in several categories regarding Latino studies, and she taught us the material using easily digestible methods.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
By attending class regularly, not only did I stay up to date on future deadlines, but it also helped me stay knowledgeable about the topics I chose to learn about. I was also able to ask questions of my professors/instructors whenever I was struggling to understand a topic. Whenever I missed class, I always felt so stressed because I knew I missed out on valuable information.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
Whenever I have a big test coming up, I love going to the tables by the fountains or studying in Still Gym. I enjoy going to these study locations because they normally have a white-noise background, which I feel helps me study better and focus, in comparison to highly populated areas.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
The biggest thing for me when researching colleges were their values and morals. I think it is very important to know what the institution you are planning to attend believes in. It is a lot more difficult to find community in a location that doesn't have similar ideals to yours.

Why is a college education important to you?
A college education is important to me because my grandparents didn't have the opportunity to finish their education. I have seen how having or not having a college education has affected several important people in my life, and seeing this makes me want to focus on myself and learn more about what I enjoy and am passionate about.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
I think it can be really hard to manage all of these demands. The one thing that has really helped me balance my time has been creating a general structure for my week to help me stay on track. With a schedule, I am able to find what times and days I need to dedicate to schoolwork and where I have extra time to prioritize myself and my relationships.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
The best way I have found to stay informed is following social media accounts from organizations or departments in which I am interested. Being more of a technical world, it is a lot harder to make those in-person connections, so really using the resources we have has helped me get more informed and connected.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I relax and recharge by getting physically active. By going on walks around campus I've been able to restart myself when I am feeling overwhelmed from school or social interactions.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
I am currently employed at Chili's and my local park district. Some things I do in my free time include photography, painting/drawing, sewing/embroidery and walking.