Major: Transfer
One month before starting at College of DuPage, Matt Van Duyn had a kidney transplant, and the donor was his twin brother.
“While other high school seniors were visiting prospective colleges, I was visiting transplant centers, and that is the initial reason why I chose COD,” he said. “I needed a place close to home to recover and close enough to the hospital if something went wrong. I went on a tour of COD and the smaller student campus really fostered a sense of community for me. Everyone I interacted with, from the staff to the students, were so kind to me at a time when I was feeling very vulnerable.”
What he learned from experience is that adversity can be a great motivator.
Honors Program at College of DuPage
“Adversity often acts as a catalyst for personal growth, and my personal goal was to experience everything that I could because I was making up for lost time,” he said. “COD gave me the foundation and support network to achieve these goals. Each small accomplishment gave me the confidence to try something new. I was the secretary of both the Honors Student Advisory Committee (HSAC), and the Page Turners Club, as well as a student ambassador. It is very easy to get involved at COD and I recommend it to everyone.”
While he initially wanted to become a high school history teacher, Van Duyn realized it might not be the right fit as he gets a little nervous in social situations. He took a summer school class in Computers and Information Science and thought it was interesting, so he enrolled in two more classes during his final semester.
But it was his experience receiving a transplant that led him to his new goal of pursuing health care analytics.
“I found that there wasn’t a lot of data out there to compare one transplant center to another, so I had to base my decision on a feeling, and that wasn’t ideal,” he said. “One of my goals is to improve the available data for patients to make an informed health care decision.”
COD is a great place to figure things out and to realize your potential regardless of what you plan to study.
Matt Van Duyn
While at COD, he received the Board of Trustees Scholarship and the Foundation’s Achiever Scholarship through the COD Foundation. He also was one of eight students in the state who received the Illinois Community College Faculty Association Scholarship.
“The scholarships allowed me to pay for most of my college tuition myself and gave me the recognition I needed to boost my self-confidence and to reach my future goals.”
In earning his Associate in Arts, Van Duyn was named on the outstanding graduate finalists. He will transfer to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
As for COD, Van Duyn is glad he enrolled and appreciated all of the opportunities he found.
“COD is a great place to figure things out and to realize your potential regardless of what you plan to study,” he said. “The faculty really cares about the success of their students and will patiently guide you toward your goals while preparing you for your future. Also, I would like to mention the generous transfer scholarships that are available, especially as a member of Phi Theta Kappa. I also think college is all about becoming well-rounded and being exposed to new experiences. The cultural experiences offered at COD are amazing. In my short time here, I’ve attended two operas, a Greek tragedy, an author talk and book signing, and two art exhibits including Andy Warhol. COD really supports students’ growth inside and outside of the classroom.
“I’ll miss COD but because of the support I received here, I know that I have a bright future.”
Learn more about transfer opportunities at College of DuPage