Austin Littlejohn is graduating with a degree in Psychology and Full University Honors.
“Today, we acknowledge the determination, struggle, and accomplishments we have each experienced throughout our time here at NIU. A brief personal insight, my name is Austin Littlejohn, and I am the youngest of three sons and the first child to graduate from college. Similar to many of us here today, I faced my own hardships and challenges when it came to navigating college. Hardships are expected, and with this in mind I now want to bring attention to the thing that unites us all here today and a very pivotal element in my and others college success. The NIU Honors Program.
In preparing for this day I had to ask myself what the program has meant to me and I came to this conclusion. The Honors Program represents three pillars of my college experience.
The first is a path for independent growth. As honors students, we must invest time in classes dedicated to the Honors Program meant to promote in-depth study and discussion, as well as opportunities meant to increase employer-seeking skills such as organization, responsibility, and awareness, and maintain high levels of academic excellence. Others may come across these experiences naturally, but the Honors Program requirements jumpstarts us to look inwards to realize what we need to attain our goals of success. Furthermore, a very valuable skill the program has helped me with, and one important to lifelong success, is networking. Through honors courses, projects, and contracts it was my responsibility to advocate for myself. This change helped me attain a level of confidence to meet individuals I value who also contributed to my college success.
The second pillar is the potential for unique experiences. With my honors path, I decided to take on an independent study class that required me to decide on a project for the curriculum and how it would be presented amongst other researchers. Something I would have shrunk away from without the courage the Honors Program instilled in me. Furthermore, with the engaged events sponsored by the Honors Program I was able to experience touring a county jail and being a reviewer to help improve a website. Not things generally offered.
Finally, I believe the third pillar of the Honors Program is the window into the real world it provides. We will all experience obstacles in our life and it’s up to us to persevere through them. The Honors Program provided its own obstacles, but not without having resources we could utilize. This relates back to the independent aspect necessary to growth and how we need to be the ones to use our skills and resources in our lives to succeed rather than remaining stagnant.
Join me now in thanking the Honors Program for all they have provided us, but let us not forget to celebrate and remember our own successes as we continue on each of our journeys.”
