Zixuan “Maggie” Yang, an international student at Illinois Valley Community College, has earned top honors in the Paul Simon Essay Contest. Her powerful essay detailed personal experiences with cultural adaptation and confronting mental health challenges since arriving in the United States. Yang’s honest reflections resonated with the judges, earning her a $300 prize. She is set to share her essay at the upcoming Academic Awards reception on April 23, 2025, joining other distinguished students. College officials praised Yang’s courage and insight, noting that her story sheds light on the experiences of international students and the importance of resilience and well-being in academic success.
Xiaoning Yang’s journey at an American college took a challenging turn early on. Missing the registration deadline nearly cost her student visa status, adding intense pressure to her academic life. In her essay, Yang opened up about battling depression, managing ADHD, and facing both language barriers and cultural adjustment. Her resilience stood out, especially as her story is now in the running for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association statewide contest. One compelling submission will be selected for an extra $500 prize, highlighting the power of perseverance and personal growth in the face of academic and emotional hurdles.
“As an international student, I often felt isolated — lectures were overwhelming, and even ordering coffee required rehearsing my words. I felt lost. But IVCC rekindled my hope.”
Her arrival in the United States to live with an aunt in the Illinois Valley had followed a months-long COVID 19 lockdown that left her reeling and frantic to leave behind an oppressive university system in China. She welcomed the pace and environment of a community college where “I have been able to break free from the oppressive conformity that I experienced elsewhere.” The new environment enabled her to redefine her personal values and the rhythm of her life, she added.
“IVCC gave me a foundation in my major, and I have very good skills. I also connected to a lot of people here, and I plan to keep in touch with all my teachers and friends. I feel powerful – and that is what IVCC gave me!”
Learning she had won this essay contest gave Yang another boost just when she needed one. “I was feeling very heavy pressure on myself. I wondered how to support my life here. I can control nothing. Then I received this good news. God gives me a hand and says do not worry about your future. This is just a little gift I give you, that IVCC gave you, winning this honor.”
