Perks of Being an Honors LLC Resident

Anjishnu Chakrabarti

Students accepted into the University Honors Program at NIU have the option of living in the Honors House Living-learning Community (LLC) located in NIU’s New Residence Hall’s east wing. Featuring 200 beds grouped into 12-person, cluster-style units, the Honors LLC offers its residents a wide array of perks. Including excursions in the DeKalb-Sycamore and Chicagoland areas, career-building opportunities through professional development workshops, and unique cultural and community-building experiences, residents of the Honors LLC have almost everything it takes to make the most of their four-year college experience.

This year I had the good fortune of living in the Honors LLC. Not only did I enjoy living with other driven Honors students, but I loved going on the semester trips with my peers and staff from the wonderful University Honors Program. Our first trip during the fall 2021 semester was to the Six Flags Great America amusement park in Gurnee, Illinois. Transportation to and from the theme park was provided and tickets were also included. I had a wonderful time that day, especially because I had never been to Six Flags before. I personally feel that this is one of the best features of being an Honors student. We get to participate in these really awesome experiences that become a part of our memories for life. I also met other Honors students who became my friends by the end of the day (another advantage of going on these excursions organized by the Honors Program). College is stressful at times and the workload from having multiple classes can seem overwhelming. However, taking these little breaks and having a fun day out with people who care about you make college a worthwhile journey.

I also went on a trip to Jonamac Orchard with the Honors program. I went there as an Honors fellow and the trip gave me an opportunity to get to know some of the other fellows. Besides being a nice team bonding exercise, the day out with friends and the Honors staff revealed another wonderful side of the program to me. The Honors Program is not just another academic program for high-achieving students: It becomes a family for the students who are part of the program (at least that is how I have always felt). Being an international student, I struggled quite a bit with acculturation and homesickness during my freshman year at NIU. It was through my active involvement in the Honors Program that I was able to break free from the shackles of cultural insecurity and thrive during my undergraduate career. Now that I am on the verge of graduating from NIU and reflecting upon my experiences as an Honors student, I think I will miss the Honors excursions the most. Those trips are not only meant for de-stressing and meeting new people, but can also be great learning experiences. For me personally, these excursions provided great insights into American culture. I recommend all other students participate in these Honors trips. College, after all, is a lot more than grades and assignments.