Mia Zavala

Mia Zavala is a chemistry major from Chicago, IL

Hometown: Chicago, IL

High School: John F. Kennedy High School

Year: Expected graduation: spring 2026

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
Since coming to NIU, I have had the following scholarships over the years: NIU merit scholarship, Chicago Public School Scholars and the Kovacevich Scholarship. Alongside this, I have received grants and loans. Frankly put, the amount of financial aid I have received from the combined scholarships, grants and loans is what allowed me to attend NIU instead of a community college. And most of my college experience is paid for as a result, providing great relief to me and my parents. Without having to worry about costs and payments during my time here, I've been able to focus entirely on classes, studying and exams, as well as enjoying the clubs I am involved with. My grades have allowed me the privilege of joining the University Honors Program, and the clubs offered here on campus allow me to get out of my comfort zone and meet new people and friends I never would have otherwise.

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 had many interests as a child, never keeping to one niche for long. I wanted to have every job under the sun, including working in fashion, being a veterinarian, pilot, teacher, actor, singer, zookeeper, chef, YouTuber, and on and on the list went. I even wanted to try my hand at football and soccer. But as I got older and entered junior high and high school, I became fascinated with science, medicine and the human body. When we really started having to think about our futures, I always came back to the medical field. With my fascination with medicine and how our bodies naturally fight infections, I made the decision to become a pharmacist at 14 years old and have stuck to that ambition since. Now that I'm attending NIU, I'm taking a major step in achieving this goal. Though not technically my major, I'm doing my best to prepare myself for medical school and being able to help others like I've always wanted to.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
My major is chemistry. I had decided on this long before I decided I would become a pharmacist. Chemistry has always been my best area of science and, ironically, plays a large part in medicine and the body. Most of our emotions, thoughts and actions are fueled by chemicals that send signals to the brain and other parts of the body. The chemistry of medicine is made to enhance or work against the already existing chemicals within us, which is what stands out to me the most about the whole process. Though it sounds off-putting to some, the study of chemistry is an area of science I’ve always enjoyed. Alongside this, most people who go into pharmacy or medical school have a major in either chemistry or biology and a minor in the other area. This is because graduate schools expect you to have been exposed to and understand both areas of science within the health field as they are practically intertwined with one another — almost like marriage or soulmates in a way. So, with my own ambitions, personal interests and academic strengths, picking chemistry as a major has always been the best and most logical choice for me.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
I am thoroughly enjoying how open and welcoming the community of DeKalb is to people who attend NIU. Though I've lived within the state my entire life, I'm still a reasonable distance from my home back in Chicago, where we're notorious for sass and being full of hot air, making everything feel too large and making me feel alone. As a rather reserved person, I came to NIU not speaking to anyone for my entire first semester outside of the club I was involved with. The members of that group were the only people I knew the names of, along with my professors and TAs. Frankly, I had unintentionally isolated myself as I tried to get used to being on my own for the first time. Being in college for the first time, for anyone, is terrifying. Especially if you're alone in the way I was, having no friends on campus and wanting to keep your head down. But when it's something as simple as greeters saying hello as you walk into a store with a genuine smile, or having people strike up conversation all around you during football games even if they're strangers — both students and community fans alike — or even having one person from your classes or extracurriculars reach out to try and make friends, it's almost life changing. It feels like a comforting embrace. Slowly but surely, the sense of community warms you down to your toes, and DeKalb and NIU start to feel more like a home away from home the longer you stay. Well, that's how it happened for me, at least. And I'm certain for countless others who have been on campus before me and will be there long after I graduate. Through and through, the friendliness of the NIU community and DeKalb as a whole has truly become one of the things I look forward to the most when a new semester begins.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
I've connected to all of my friends through either sharing multiple classes with them (and bonding over the material going over our heads), meeting them through group class projects, and being involved in clubs, activities and events together.

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 currently involved in both the Chemistry Club and the Gaming for All Club. Both clubs have driven me to socialize and create connections, forcing myself out of my bubble. Originally, I had decided to attend Chem Club so I'd have a support system to fall back on when it came to classwork. But I was pleasantly surprised to find a bustling group of fellow sleep-deprived science nerds who wanted to kick back with pizza and set off ping-pong-ball explosions while we light things on fire. It's an open club and welcoming community to everyone, with or without a chemistry major or minor. This club was the ideal place for my freshman self, and I've made friendships that have lasted my entire college career, even serving on their e-board. It's a club I will continue to enjoy during my time here, and I hope to help newcomers get comfortable and feel welcomed the same way I was. Gaming for All is a club I joined rather recently after being invited by one of my friends, who also happens to be the club's president. Much more laid back than other clubs in nature, GFA is a place where I, my friend and others can enjoy each other's company while enjoying a good tabletop, console or handheld, or even just doing homework and studying. The club strives to as inclusive as possible, as the name implies, regardless of race, gender, sex, romantic and sexual orientations, etc. It's a wonderful place for the most reserved to the most outgoing to come and relax and bond surrounded by a supportive and accepting community. It allowed me to branch out and make another handful of new friends. I'm certain that it will be the same for anyone else involved with the club as well.

What Honors Program opportunities or support have helped you get closer to your academic or career goals so far?
The meetings with honors advisors each semester have certainly helped keep me on track for my goal of graduating with Associate University Honors. I'm able to make sure I meet all of my requirements, and I have an extra person to look over my classes, schedule and GPA. Even though we only meet twice during the school year, it's exceptionally helpful for me in achieving my personal and academic goals.

What do you enjoy the most about the Honors Program?
I enjoy the small events for students in the honors program that pop up every couple of months around campus. Whether it's welcome back events, holiday parties, etc., there's a sense of community there that can't be replicated. It also allows honors students to get to know one another better, leading to new friendships and connections with people you'd likely never meet otherwise. The free printing in the honors building is always a plus, too.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
One of my favorite instructors was Allison Abels, who taught MATH 105 - College Algebra. We were the unlucky class that had to meet three days a week bright and early at eight. But one of the great things about her was how she understood this and planned around it. We were given daily participation grades based on the group discussions and worksheets we were given. As long as we looked awake, did our work and weren't on our phones too much, we were good as golden. She also provided short breaks throughout the class period, allowing people to have a snack or use the restroom at times when nothing important would be missed. She was a wonderfully nice and fun person as well, always telling stories about her and her fiancé, and she went through concepts again and again, until the person who asked the question understood, no matter how bored or zoned out everyone else was by that point. Ms. Abels more than proved she was a bright professor who wanted her students to succeed, no matter how much early-morning math sucked. She was attentive, tried to find ways to help individual students and their learning styles, and was always ready to answer questions and assist with a smile. Another bonus point came from her having our names memorized by the end of the first two weeks of classes. She's a wonderful teacher who anyone taking MATH 105 will enjoy (whether you're in the morning class or not).

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
The main way I benefit from attending class is the explanation from the professor’s lecture outside of what I get from just reading the book and taking notes. Sometimes I don't understand the professor and their explanation, and I can rely on the course material for help, but most of the time, it ends up being the other way around. Though attendance may not be mandatory, there is only so much learning you can do on your own. Most of the time, professors are also willing to stay after class for a few moments to answer any immediate questions you have. If not, their office hours are also a great time to get questions answered. You can learn a lot from the course material, depending on the subject, but it's just as important to attend classes and lectures in order to hear an explanation or clarification, or even to have things spun in a different way that might be easier to understand than just absorbing the material on your own. Attendance might not be mandatory for your class, but even showing up as little as once a week can have a positive impact on your understanding, grade and GPA.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
Currently, my favorite spot on campus is, surprisingly, the Neptune Hall lounge. It's a nostalgic place for me, as I spent my freshman year in Neptune West and my sophomore year in Neptune North. I've become well acquainted with those comfy chairs and couches, the study tables and fireplace. Now that I've got longer breaks between my classes, the lounge is the perfect spot for me to plug in my laptop and get some classwork and studying done, or to just relax and wait for the dining hall to open up. It might not be the spot for everyone, with all the laughter and conversation, but those can easily be tuned out with some headphones or earbuds. Combine that with a fireplace during the late fall and winter, and it quickly becomes one of the most popular places to stop by and rest, even for just a few minutes. Though an unorthodox choice, Neptune's lounge has got to be one of my top places on campus. If you're looking for somewhere with seats so comfy you can fall asleep in them, it's the best spot around.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
Look into scholarships. Whether they're offered by the college you're considering applying to or not, if you qualify, a little bit of extra cash to pay for class materials or tuition can make all the difference on not only where you apply, but where you end up being accepted. Different colleges have different opportunities. More often than not, the larger a college is, the more scholarships they have that cover small amounts. These can stack up when several are given to an applying student at once. If a college has the courses, location and opportunities you want, look into any and all scholarships you can, because not only does it ease the stress of tuition, if only a little, but it could be what you need in your corner to attend once you're accepted.

Why is a college education important to you?
The number of jobs that require at least an associate degree tends to be growing in the modern day and age, regardless of it being minimum wage, entry level, trade, etc. Therefore, there's been a drastic rise in the importance of college and higher education as a whole in recent years. Alongside this, I plan to work in the pharmaceutical industry, which requires you to major in health or science and make it through graduate and medical school. College and getting a proper education have always been important to me, as academics have always taken up a large portion of my life. It's also become a necessity for the career I aspire to have. As long as higher-level education is important for my job field and countless others, having a college education will always be important to me.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
My main strategy is to keep a planner, a digital calendar and a physical calendar. My planner is where I keep track of assignments and academic deadlines, my phone calendar has alerts I can set to remind me of events, and my physical calendar allows me to see my most important events as I come and go from my dorm, serving as one last reminder. With all these in place, I'm able to plan my classwork around my job shifts and club meetings. This strategy may not work for everyone, but the triple threat of reminders I see every day makes sure it sticks inside my brain.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I find out about events happening on campus through the “Weekly Scroll of Things to Know” and the honors weekly newsletter.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I tend to sing along to pop music and show tunes when I'm by myself in my dorm. I also watch YouTube videos and documentaries, as well as play sudoku, crosswords, word searches, mobile games and online jigsaw puzzles. But my main go-to is to either settle in with a good story to read or write my own. I also like to go for walks around campus or just pace around my room as I vibe to music. All these options keep my mind and/or body active and never fail to put me in a good mood.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
Currently, I work part time at the NIU Convocation Center. You might see me scanning tickets, doing bag checks, ushering and other odd jobs along those lines. I'm still rather new to the job, but all of my supervisors have done their absolute best to help me and the other new hires learn the basic rules and guidelines and feel welcomed and appreciated for our time and work. My hobbies are usually how I tend to relax. I'm a huge fan of music, with Imagine Dragons being my all-time favorite band. If I don't have headphones on, you can assume there's a song playing in my head or on my laptop. My main go-tos are Imagine Dragons, Melanie Martinez and Michael Jackson. I'm big on show tunes as well. I'm proud to say that I've got around 80-85% of Disney animated movie songs memorized word for word, as well as instrumentals (ranging from as far back as “Heigh-Ho” from “Snow White” to as recent as “We Don't Talk About Bruno” from “Encanto”). My other hobbies include reading and writing. I'm always one to settle down for a good magical fantasy or detective thriller. I find myself writing bits and pieces of ideas in my head every day, and though I'm not confident about it, I would love to have one of my original works published one day. I'm also into the gaming scene. I enjoy your standard Pokemon and the like, but I also enjoy series like Persona, BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle, Mortal Combat vs. DC, Doki Doki, Ace Attorney and so on. I'm not ashamed to admit I've found good mobile games in Dragonvale and Disney's Twisted Wonderland, either. They may be rather laid back, but my hobbies have shaped me as a person and evolved with me over the years. With my career ambitions and life revolving around my fascination with science and the human body, I'll always be grateful that my hobbies lay in the arts to help round out my worldview.