See how two School of Humanities and Sciences students transformed during their time at the college.

In September of their first year, two students from the School of Humanities and Sciences participated in a photo project. We asked them to bring something meaningful to them and kept in touch with them throughout their four years at IC. In the spring of their senior year, we asked them how they had changed during their time at IC. Here are their stories. 

Monica Chen

Monica Chen

Monica Chen in her first year at IC. 

HOMETOWN: Carlisle, Massachusetts
MAJOR: Writing 
ACTIVITIES: MLK Scholar, President of IC China Care Club, Asian American Alliance, Studied Abroad in Dublin, Ireland, Writing Center Tutor
FAVORITE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE Going to Dublin for a Writers Program

Monica Chen in her fourth year at IC. 

Monica Chen in her fourth year at IC. 

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOURSELF FROM FOUR YEARS AGO?
I would tell myself to not take things so seriously and to be a little bit more flexible. It’s ok that some of my plans didn’t go exactly as I wanted them to. Some of the most incredible experiences I’ve had throughout college have been the ones that I didn’t think were going to happen. If I wasn’t stubborn about trying to hold onto those plans, I could have had some of those experiences earlier.

Monika Huot

HOMETOWN: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
MAJOR: Applied Economics
ACTIVITIES: American Marketing Association, International Club of Ithaca College, Student Leadership Institute, IC Progressives, Certified IT Technician

After graduation, Huot got a master's degree in economics from the University of Manchester in England.

When I was a freshman, I was always nervous because I didn’t know what I was going to come across, who I was going to meet, or what kind of friends I was going to make. And I feel like now as a senior, I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable with that, and I think I’m able to express myself a lot more, especially in the classroom. When you’re a new student, it’s hard to speak up. But now I think I’m more vocal, and I think that’s a good change. My advice to first-year students is to always be open to new opportunities and to meeting new people because you never know who you’re going to meet and what kind of opportunities you will get just from being open.