Meaningful opportunities can come out of what might feel like failures
Alison Nunes, May 2022
- Grainger College of Engineering
Success Stories
Hear what Illinois graduates have to say about their time on campus and where they are headed next. Each graduate also offers some words of advice to current and prospective students. Enjoy!
Take time to explore different majors and career paths
Bora Shim, May 2022
- College of Media
- Division of General Studies
Seek out opportunities that allow you to maintain a wide breadth of options for later in your college career
Eric Plante, May 2022
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Never miss an opportunity to give back
Cayden Boyer, May 2022
- School of Information Sciences
Follow up with recruiters, because that’s a great way to get to know a company
Hafsa Amir, May 2022
- Gies College of Business
Trust in the process and embrace discomfort
Linda Obobaifo, May 2022
- College of Fine and Applied Arts
You can always ask for help
Melia Watson, May 2022
- College of Education
Take advantage of the University of Illinois’ alumni network
Faye Yang, May 2022
- College of Applied Health Sciences
You have to be willing to put yourself out there. You can’t be scared of being told no
Emmarie Alexander, May 2022
- College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
It’s important to network with a wide variety of people beyond the classroom setting
Abbey Malbon, May 2022
- School of Social Work
Be curious and get engaged
Julie Melnik, May 2021
- Division of General Studies
- Gies College of Business
Take advantage of all your resources
Akash Mattu, May 2021
- College of Fine and Applied Arts
Take full advantage of Illinois’ amazing faculty and facilities
Geoffrey Schmelzer, May 2021
- College of Fine and Applied Arts
Don’t rush your process
Morgan Payne, May 2021
- College of Media
Take advantage of study abroad programs
Georgina Adatsi, December 2020
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Division of General Studies
Always do what you love, because then it will never be work
Taylor Mazique, May 2021
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
It’s okay not to know exactly what you want to do
Joseph Anthony Manning, August 2020
- College of Applied Health Sciences
- Division of General Studies
You are capable
Madeleine Costantini, May 2021
- College of Education
Don’t be afraid to fail fast and learn faster
Julia Francesca Santos, May 2021
- Grainger College of Engineering
Make sure that you build a support system
Kelin Mendoza, May 2021
- College of Applied Health Sciences
Stay engaged to make the most of your college experience
Kelvin Cross, May 2021
- College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
- Division of General Studies
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there
Julia Meirink, May 2021
- College of Media
- Division of General Studies
You deserve to be here
Michael Kosinski, May 2021
- School of Social Work
Never let your current situation define your destination
Oluwatosin (Tosin) Akinsanya, May 2020
- Grainger College of Engineering
Seek out mentors and advocates
Oakley Whalen, May 2020
- College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
Half the fun is the journey
Jose Del Real, May 2020
- Gies College of Business
Get involved and try different things
Yera Shin, May 2020
- College of Education
- Division of General Studies
It’s all about the networking
Mikayla Pollard, May 2020
- College of Applied Health Sciences
Be genuine to who you are
Akeem Kennedy, December 2019
- Division of General Studies
- Grainger College of Engineering
Go forward confidently; listen and learn from everyone around you
Rebecca Wood, May 2020
- College of Media
Continuously ask yourself who you want to be
Araceli Carbajal (she, her, hers), May 2020
- School of Social Work
It’s okay to be a little bit lost
Alex Cualoping, May 2020
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Be bold and put yourself out there fully
Hayley Peterson, May 2020
- College of Fine and Applied Arts
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Always believe in yourself
Elliott Robinson, May 2020
- Grainger College of Engineering
Find your why
Krish Patel, May 2019
- Division of General Studies
- Gies College of Business
Keep reaching for big ideas; Find strong advocates
Jessica Austriaco, May 2019
- Grainger College of Engineering
You are not alone
Kathryn Vanek, May 2019
- College of Education
Remember to give back
Kevin McLurkin, May 2019
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Division of General Studies
Put yourself out there
Shantiera Taylor, May 2019
- College of Applied Health Sciences
Get involved and build community
Kellyn Cuevas Tovar, May 2019
- School of Social Work
Take time to explore
Steven Sabatini, May 2019
- College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
Confidence is a skill you can learn
Christina Ernst, May 2019
- Grainger College of Engineering
Get outside of your comfort zone
Kara D. Hudson, May 2019
- College of Applied Health Sciences
Branch out and make connections
Kevin Mendoza, May 2019
- College of Media
- Division of General Studies
Create your own standards for success
Sophie Walton, May 2019
- College of Fine and Applied Arts
Be passionate and proactive
Kevin Burns, May 2018
- Grainger College of Engineering
Use your time at Illinois to explore many interests
Joshua Krawitz, May 2018
- College of Media
There’s something irreplaceable about talking to people face-to-face
Hana Hong, May 2018
- College of Media
The road to success is not always smooth
Kareem Rogers, August 2017
- Gies College of Business
Take a breath and use your resources
Nameshia Tetteh, May 2018
- College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
- Division of General Studies
Spend time on what really matters to you
Lavine Leyu Luo, May 2018
- College of Fine and Applied Arts
Networking can be as simple as sparking a conversation with a peer
Cassandra Chlebowski, May 2018
- College of Education
Finding a balance is key
Isaac Beyer, December 2017
- College of Applied Health Sciences
Get out and try new things
Catherine Wiegand, December 2017
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
There are resources around every corner
Desree McNair, May 2018
- School of Social Work
Intentionally get out of your comfort zone
Andrew Shone, May 2018
- Grainger College of Engineering
Build networks all around you
Asher Deitch, December 2014
- College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
Ask questions whenever and wherever needed
Deepti Gupta, May 2015
- Grainger College of Engineering
Embrace uncertainty with an open mind
Reema Abi-Akar, May 2015
- College of Fine and Applied Arts
- Division of General Studies
Use any and all available resources
Lilliana Salas, May 2015
- College of Education
You can’t change the world by standing still
Kyle Polke, January 2016
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
How will you make an impact?
Jasmine Joda, May 2015
- Gies College of Business
Talk with your professors
Elizabeth Badskey, May 2015
- School of Social Work
Embrace the spirit of discovering yourself
R. Davis Born, May 2015
- Grainger College of Engineering
Networking is key
Daniel Gutiérrez, May 2015
- College of Applied Health Sciences
Seek opportunities to grow
Brandon Brown, May 2015
- College of Media
- Division of General Studies