Saadia Fatima: Learning to embrace the unfamiliar

“It is strange that what seems at first alien becomes second nature in the blink of an eye.” ― Sara Sheridan, The Secret Mandarin

I have always been, and still am, an enthusiast of familiarity. Whether it’s in my surroundings, the people I interact with, or my routine, I enjoy consistency. So, when the time came to transition from high school to college, I was simply scared. Dealing with change was not my strong suit. I was afraid of leaving the hallways, the faces, and the environment that I had grown accustomed to during my high school years. I was so anxious that I actually delayed the registration process till the last minute.

When I started my first semester at Elgin Community College in the fall of 2017, I had two different classes with the same teacher: Dr. Joyce Fountain. Dr. Fountain was, and still is, cheerful and welcoming, and became the reason I began to find a level of comfort in my new surroundings. I am thankful for the kindness she showed me during that semester and my entire time at ECC.

Toward the end of the 2018 spring semester, I applied for a job on campus. By the summer, I was officially a student worker in the Office of Student Life. I worked there until mid-fall 2019, and it was the highlight of my time at ECC. I found friends, mentors, and resources that I probably would not have gotten without working there. My time as a student worker helped me gain confidence in myself, exposed me to different situations and people, and encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone. I am forever grateful to all the people who made the experience worthwhile and helped me along the way.

ECC is an institution to which I owe a lot. I found familiarity and comfort here, but at the same time, I learned to let go and embrace unfamiliarity. It is an environment in which differences are valued, and diversity brings everyone together.

--Saadia Fatima

Associate in Arts

Elgin

Contact: Elissa Kojzarek

Communications Specialist

Office: 847-214-7838

Email: news@elgin.edu

Elgin Community College (ECC) is a comprehensive public community college, one of 48 statewide. ECC serves approximately 15,000 students each year. Programs of study include 25 major fields for university transfer, more than 130 career-oriented, occupational degrees and certificates, corporate and continuing education, and a full complement of pre-collegiate courses. The three-year graduation rate exceeds the national average and the average of peer colleges. ECC awards more than 2,200 degrees and certificates each year.

ECC NEWS MEDIA PROTOCOL

All members of the media should utilize the public relations department as the first point of contact. The communications specialist, may be reached at 847-214-7828, or news@elgin.edu. All Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests must be submitted in writing to Marilyn Prentice, compliance officer, at mprentice@elgin.edu or via fax at 847-214-7375. This release is the official newshead for Elgin Community College. Any information received on behalf of ECC not on this newshead should be disregarded.