Attending CLC was a very smart decision, and the college exceeded all of my expectations. You get so much for the tuition price, and the college does an outstanding job of helping people prepare for a career or four-year transfer program. Besides the great professors, CLC has so many resources, from the free tutoring to counselors.
I’m far beyond prepared for Illinois State, and by receiving a Pell Grant, I have been able to finish my associate degree this summer.Taking general education courses at CLC helps shorten the time it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree.
After graduating from high school, I knew that I wasn’t ready to go away from home, but I wanted a true college experience and got it. CLC’s psychology courses have been terrific. In an introductory course, the professor really pushed us to learn the material on deeper levels. We discussed disorders, lifespan development, the id, ego, superego and different psychologists from Sigmund Freud to Alfred Adler.
When the professor assigned us to write a five- to 20-page term paper on any aspect of psychology, he mentioned that the size of the paper “is not even a dent” compared to the size of a doctoral dissertation. For those of us planning graduate degrees in psychology, his comment helped prepare us for our future.
In a sociology class, the professor engaged the class by using humor and making reference to popular movies. He explained how “Rogue One,” the latest “Star Wars” movie, illustrates family dynamics. He also cited Captain Kirk from “Star Trek” as example of leadership qualities, and he did funny voice impersonations of “Star Trek” characters. I enjoyed the class sessions so much, the time just flew by.
Outside of class, a math tutor went above and beyond to help me overcome math anxiety. When I took an elementary statistics course, I was very nervous at first. But the tutor saw potential inside me. She explained how to study the material and take clear, organized notes. When I reviewed the material with her, my self-confidence grew. And when I got an A in the course, it felt great.
The tutoring is a great resource, and the center’s location on the Grayslake Campus location has sunshine and a pretty view of Willow Lake. Both create a calming environment in the winter and summer.
At the Grayslake Campus, I appreciate the beauty of the Japanese Garden, the natural light in Café Willow and the open spaces to sit and study. The campus is big enough to accommodate everybody, but small enough not to be overwhelming. The new Science Building will be a wonderful addition, and I like how all the new improvements to the A, B and C Wings are coming together.
At CLC, I’ve made new friends with people from all backgrounds, and it’s a great feeling to walk down a hallway and say a friendly “hi” to people I know. What’s neat is to make friends with others who are pursuing same thing you are: a college education.
I want to be a psychologist because I like helping people. Ever since grade school, I’ve been fascinated with how people think. I never get bored with psychology, because no two people behave in exactly the same way.