Life after ICC. One student’s words of advice.
Illinois Central College is a place for many students to begin their college career. While some complete the two-year program and leave with that, others decide to continue to a four-year year school.
Tucker LaHaie, a graduate of ICC, and now in their second year at Illinois State University. Tucker started at ICC at age 18 in the journalism program of study and graduated two years later with arts and history.
“My time at ICC started relatively rough, as I didn’t push myself to build a strong social network., I found myself doing the bare minimum my first semester., I did well enough academically, but my social needs were not fully met,” LaHaie recalled in a recent interview.
“After that first semester, I understood that I needed to be engaged in my classes and actively try to build a social network. After that realization, my bonds got infinitely deeper, I was more engaged in classes, and found myself invited to the honors society,.” LaHaie said.
LaHaie also has some advice to give to future and present students.
“Don’t skip class, talk to your professors, and talk to the people in your class! It will make your lives so much easier,” they said.
Tucker is estimated to graduate in fall of 2026, majoring in educational history. Their time at ICC may be behind them but it was the founding building block to the rest of their college career.