Student Profiles

Home State: North Carolina
Major: Psychology and Elementary Education

Class of 2011

As a junior in high school, the pressure began to build and the quiet chatter about college became an everyday sound among my classmates.  I immediately slipped into the, “well I’m going to go to a big state school,” mindset.  After visiting and being accepted to Liberty University, Gardner-Webb University, Lenior-Rhyne University (college at the time), and NC State University, I heard about a small private college in the Greensboro area that was well-known for its rigorous academic programs.  Of course, being a football player, I wanted to know about the athletics at Guilford.  The turning point, and essentially the icing on the cake, was when I stood in the middle of NC State’s football field and realized that I’d rather be watching the game than playing the game.

My Guilford career started off on the football practice field prior to the arrival of the rest of my classmates.  Life was good, until that first college class – English 101.  Then, life was great!  I loved attending class at Guilford because I was able to have a debate with my professor, express my opinions, and think for myself – all in the same day!  Additionally, there is no hierarchy in Guilford’s classrooms.  My past professors have been Chris, David, Richie, Damon, and Caryl, for example, despite them all having a PhD.

On top of the unique classroom experience, Guilford has provided so many doors of opportunity that would have been steel walls at a larger university.  I presented my own original research to the Board of Trustees and secured a paid internship in Washington, DC with the NEA Foundation for the summer of 2010.  Also, I will be traveling abroad in the spring of 2010 to Alicante, Spain for a semester.  Overall, Guilford’s atmosphere, academic rigor, teamwork, sense of community, and openness, as well as my own hard work, have contributed in a combined effort to enable me to remain on Dean’s List since I arrived at Guilford.  The small classrooms, relationships with faculty and staff, and the opportunity to be the best I can be far surpassed the reward of being associated with a NCAA mascot.

Upon graduation I intend to continue my education in either Education or Psychology – hopefully at Harvard University.  My overall goal in life is to help others either in the educational setting or in the formal setting of a practice.