Macy Grimm, sophomore child development major, spoke to the Northern Star about how she plans to help treat children with cancer.

Northern Star: Why did you choose the major you did?

Macy Grimm: I chose it because I am very interested in working with children. I have a background with children, and worked in a day care for the past five years, and I’ve also been volunteering at St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital. I have a huge interest in children with cancer, so that’s what I want to do.

NS: What is something you are proud of?

MG: I am proud of the fact that I have the heart to work with children with cancer because not a lot of people have the heart to do that. They look at it as being … an upsetting career and job because you are around sick children all day, but for me I look at it as I am helping them to put a smile on their faces and make them feel like actual kids.

NS: What are your plans for the next five years?

MG: I can actually graduate a year early ’cause I’m ahead of the game. So I plan to graduate in the next two years and go to grad school for the following two years.

NS: What’s working with the children like?

MG: It’s very rewarding because you come in and children are usually pretty upset because they are there getting treatment. …You get to work with them, do arts and crafts and play games with them and make them feel like actual children who don’t have any sickness. It’s very rewarding to see the smiles on their faces and just have them be happy and act like they don’t have anything wrong with them.

NS: What part of NIU have you liked the most since you’ve been here?

MG: The part about NIU that I like is that it is a very open campus. The people are very friendly.

So for that aspect, just the ability to make new friends and hang out with people is awesome because everyone is so nice and welcoming. For the academic aspect I would say that the teachers and professors are very open and they are willing to help you attain what you want to do later on in life and are very supportive.

NS: What is something that very few people know about you?

MG: I guess very few people know my background. I think few people know that a lot of people in my life that are very close to me have been affected by cancer, and that’s why I have such a huge passion for it. It’s not just because I see these kids and say, “Oh, I want to help them.” I have a connection to it, as well.

NS: Where is your favorite place to eat?

MG: My favorite place to eat is Panera Bread for sure. I really, really like their soup. My mom and I go there when I go back home, so it’s kind of like our own little spot. It reminds me of being back home.

NS: What is something you would like to do before you die?

MG: I want to go to Greece really bad and travel Europe to see what it is like over there. I would love to do that.

NS: What advice would you give to fellow students?

MG: Really reach out and do what you love to do. For instance, my major and my job that I am hopefully going to have one day doesn’t pay a lot but it doesn’t matter. Always go with what your heart tells you to do and do what you love to do.