Peace Ekechukwu, a 2022 ILTexas graduate and current junior at Bates College, is making the most of an incredible opportunity to study abroad in Taiwan this semester. Her journey, rooted in the language requirement at ILTexas, has led her to embrace Chinese as one of her college majors and explore the world in ways she never imagined.

"The requirement to study Chinese at ILTexas allowed me to fall in love with the language and choose it as one of my majors in college," Peace shared. "Today, I am blessed with the opportunity to study abroad in Taiwan, all because I chose to pursue my interest in Chinese, merely out of passion."

Peace, who is double majoring in Chinese and History, applied through the global education office at Bates College to participate in a study-abroad program in Taiwan. Peace was eligible for the program and received full financial support from Bates.

"Choosing to study abroad this semester was the best decision I made because for the first time, I didn’t have to pay Bates any tuition. Due to my financial situation, Bates covered the cost of my program and provided me with more than enough to cover my trip abroad—including my flight, food, and other expenses. I basically received money to study somewhere else in the world, all because of a passion I chose to pursue," she said.

While in Taiwan, Peace is taking a Chinese class as part of her major and a history course to further her academic studies. She also plans to explore Taiwan’s history, its relationship with the United States, and visit museums to broaden her global perspective. She hopes to use this experience to find a topic for her senior thesis next semester. Additionally, the CET Taiwan program she is part of encourages cultural engagement by reimbursing students for money spent on local activities, further enhancing her experience abroad.

Reflecting on her journey, Peace encourages ILTexas students to take advantage of every opportunity available to them, even when financial concerns seem like a barrier.

"My advice to ILTexas students is to never limit yourself. Don’t avoid trying just because you might not get in or because you think you can’t afford it. Always do your best, and your hard work will create opportunities for you. Finances were a big worry for me when it came to choosing colleges and studying abroad, but I overlooked the tuition and still applied anyway—thanks to Ms. Byrd’s encouragement. Now, here I am, studying at a school that costs over $80,000 per year while paying less than what some people pay to attend community college."

She credits her success to a combination of faith, perseverance, and utilizing the resources available to her in both high school and college.

"We truly are our biggest obstacles because we limit ourselves in a world full of opportunities. Use your resources, ask questions, and try—no matter how out of reach it seems. Education was my tool to break through financial barriers and achieve my goals, so I gave it my all because it was all I had—and I will continue to do so."

Peace’s inspiring story is a testament to the power of perseverance and taking full advantage of educational opportunities. ILTexas students can look to her journey as a reminder that passion, dedication, and courage can open doors to experiences far beyond what they might have imagined.