Rhetorical Strategies of Warren Wilson College 

Posted on by
Reply

Took this picture myself when I was on Warren Wilson Campus during their Summer music program called the Swannanoa Gathering.

Summary  ( 88 words )

 

Warren Wilson College is a Liberal Arts College located in Swannanoa, North Carolina.  The Curriculum is a mixture of In-classroom learning, work and community service ( which is required for Graduation ). It was founded  in 1894  as the Asheville Farm School and became a 4 year College in the mid 1960s. It’s a small private College with twenty one Majors, most of them being Humanities and Social Science. The Methods that the College uses to try and convince College students to go their College is Pathos and Imagining readers. 

 

Analysis ( 907 words ) 

 

First thing the audience sees when they enter the site  is a banner that says “ We believe the World needs curiosity “. The College wants the audience of potential students and their parents to know that the school prioritizes learning and encourages a thirst for knowledge. Below it there is another quote that says ;  “ Our Philosophy ; Academics, Work & Service. The World needs curiously  insightful, experienced, and capable individuals and we’re ready to help you be one. “ followed by a button under it that says “ we’re different “ . This button leads to their academic page which elaborates on the values of the college. They state upfront that they expect extracurricular activities along with college work. This College is focused on making sure their students are well rounded and provide them with opportunities for them to gain experience. Below that there is a link to the list of Majors,Minors and Concentrates. There are only twenty one majors, there are over thirty minors and twenty concentrations ( concentrations being a specific focus in a major or field ). Despite the fact that there are only 21 majors, students still have a lot of options to study. Obviously when clicking on each major, the College gives a brief description about what the courses are about and what the minors and concentrations are and also shows a couple of classes as a preview. 

When clicking onto the Students’ Life tab, it starts with a quote about working hard and finding answers that says ¨ If you like to dive in, climb high, play hard, and never stop searching for the best answers to hard questions, this is the place for you. “ Once again making it clear that learning is a priority for the College. It is followed by information about the College Campus, including the hiking trails and the nearest city, Asheville. After that there is information about food and board. 

The College boasts that the food served in the Cafeteria comes from a farm run by the Students themselves. There are also two additional cafes, the Owl’s Nest, that serves coffee and snacks and the Vegetarian Cowpie that serves vegetarian, vegan and gluten free food, claiming that the students are the ones cooking the food. The College really emphasizes the quality of the food they serve and the fact that students are the ones in charge of the planning and cooking/ baking of the food. Seems like they are demonstrating that they care about the students’ health and preferences on what they choose to eat. The next set of links explain where they get their food from ( aka the links about their farm, gardens and local food sources ) and the people behind it. 

For the Housing, The College requires that the Students live on Campus for three years and can only live off Campus if they either completed ninety credit hours or is under the age of twenty one but only under certain conditions such as they are living with someone nearby, have a kid, or are completely financially independent. That Information is followed by a quote  by Kathleen Maloney “ When you are part of a community, your level of accountability for yourself and your surroundings heightens. It’s not just a random face cleaning your bathroom, it’s your roommate’s or your neighbor’s. Treating everyone in my environment as a human being like me regardless of what they are doing rather than a task or a service is something that has stayed with me.” Which seems to be advice to a student living away from home, possibly for the first time with people who are also living away from home possibly for the first time. The College gives the students a survey about their lifestyle, habits and interests  then tries to assign a room and roommate according to the results, once again showing that the Schools cares more about the students as people than grades and test scores.

Like other Schools, Warren Wilson College provides extracurriculars and sports to entertain students and give them an opportunity for growth. They also give ideas for things that students can do other than the weekends which is mostly play music, create art, appreciate nature and go to Asheville. 

Warren Wilson College does not have a specific religion that it is associated with in fact, the College encourages inclusivity and tolerance between people of different Religions. They call it the Interfaith journey where they allow religious groups to meet and provide funding rituals, holidays and festivities. Not everything about it is Religious and some aspects focus on just spirituality and ‘ finding one’s self ‘ through activities like yoga, hiking, and art. 

The College is a liberal arts College meaning it focuses on Art, Literature , sociology. They use Pathos to portray a welcoming environment with staff that focus on students and their personal interests. They care more about them than as a number or statistic. When looking at the Website, they are acting like they are talking to the Potential Student and appealing to their personal interests. They provide many opportunities for the students to gain new and useful skills which are appealing to students and their parents who are the target audience by using the Imaginary audience strategy , using language like they’re presenting to someone and trying to make a personal connection by using ‘we’ and ‘our’ in the text. Warren Wilson College is trying to be a homey and inviting, drawing in people that enjoy socializing and the arts.

Response ( 203 words )

 

I enjoy the atmosphere that the School is trying to give for the students ; a tight- knit community that cares about the students personal preferences. If Warren Wilson College were to move to Atlanta and I didn’t have to worry about money, I still wouldn’t go to it. My reason is that I want to focus on Foreign Language and I haven’t seen any foreign language programs. They do have Study abroad programs but based on the sample courses, I would have to be in a specific major to go to a specific country and The College does not seem to have foreign language classes let alone a major in foreign language ( which is just studying the language and culture ). Warren Wilson College focuses on Art and Music which is further proven by the music programs they have over the summer called the Swannanoa Gathering, which is how I know about the School ( my family, especially my dad,is involved in the Celtic Music community ). If I wanted to a major in something involving art, music or agriculture then Warren Wilson would be a great candidate but because I am majoring in foreign Language, Warren Wilson is not  the right College for me. 

Sources ;

  • “Warren Wilson College Webpage.” Warren Wilson College, 27 Mar. 2023, https://www.warren-wilson.edu/. 
  • Board, College. “College Board.” BigFuture College Search, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/warren-wilson-college/academics. 

 

Southeastern College- Major Project #3

Posted on by
Reply

About - Southeastern UniversityAthletic Communications - Southeastern University Athletics

Summary: 

Southeastern University seeks students who are committed to their faith and values and desire to integrate their spiritual beliefs into their academic pursuits. The university emphasizes its commitment to providing a supportive environment for academic, spiritual, and personal growth. To support this argument, the website uses the rhetorical style of ethos to highlight the university’s credibility as a faith-based academic institution, the skills of its faculty and staff, and featuring testimonials from students and alumni. It also uses case studies, showcasing the university’s facilities and surrounding community through high-quality visuals and multimedia.

Analysis: 

Prospective students frequently rely on a university’s website to gather information and gain insight into the institution’s values, programs, and overall culture, but Southeastern University, a Christ-centered institution of higher learning, employs ethos to establish credibility and persuade prospective students that it is the right college for them. Through the use of rhetorical techniques and case studies, Southeastern University’s website successfully showcases their commitment to academic excellence, spiritual development, and community involvement. 

Prospective students frequently rely on a university’s website to gather information and gain insight into the institution’s values, programs, and overall culture, but Southeastern University, a Christ-centered institution of higher learning, employs ethos to establish credibility and persuade prospective students that it is the right college for them. Through the use of rhetorical techniques and case studies, Southeastern University’s website successfully showcases their commitment to academic excellence, spiritual development, and community involvement. 

One of the key strategies the website uses to gain credibility is ethos, which displays the university’s core values; spiritual growth, community involvement, and academics. For example, the “About” page on the website states that, “Southeastern University is a Christ-centered institution of higher learning” and that “our students are challenged to become servant leaders in their communities” (About SEU). These statements indicate the use of ethos by maintaining an environment that promotes spiritual growth and integrates Christian values and their commitment to make student leaders. By using their values, they create a trusted and credible source, which can be a persuasive strategy to attract students who share Southeastern University’s values. This approach can create a sense of connection and alignment with the institution which would motivate students to apply and enroll. 

Another way Southeastern University uses ethos on its website is by displaying the skills of their faculty and staff. The university uses the accomplishments of their faculty to establish a reputation as a leading institution in higher education. For example, the website states, “”Our faculty members are world-class scholars and practitioners with real-world experience in their respective fields” (Faculty and Staff). This example indicates the university’s commitment to recruiting highly qualified professionals and experts in various fields. The expertise of its faculty and staff, establishes its authority and credibility in providing quality education to its students.

The quality of their education can be shown through the use of case studies in the form of student and alumni testimonials. They present prior experiences, for example, a current student testimonial states, “The professors here genuinely care about you as a person and want you to succeed in all areas of life. I have grown so much spiritually and personally during my time here” (About SEU). This testimonial appeals to prospective students who value individual attention and a supportive community, showcasing the university’s commitment to student success. 

Southeastern University also features alumni case studies, providing evidence of the long-term benefits of attending Southeastern University. For example, one alumna states, “My time at Southeastern prepared me not just for a career, but for a life of service and leadership. I am grateful for the strong foundation of faith and character that the university provided” (About SEU). This alumna appeals to individuals who look for a college that will lead them to a fulfilling life, and also prepares them for responsibilities and gives them the opportunity to be a leader. 

Overall, the Southeastern University website employs the rhetorical strategy of ethos, to persuade students that it is the best choice for those seeking a Christian-based education. The use of rhetorical style in addition to case studies provides evidence of the university’s commitment to academic excellence, spiritual growth, and community involvement. These strategies effectively appeal to prospective students who prioritize these values in their education, providing a persuasive argument for attending Southeastern University.

Response: 

Although I am not judgmental towards others beliefs, I believe it’s quite contradictory for me, a Muslim to attend this University. I would not feel comfortable attending Southeastern University because of their strong belief towards Christianity. While I respect it, I would prefer to attend an institution that is welcoming towards different faiths and includes more racially diverse individuals; as Christianity is predominantly white/black or Hispanic. 

Southeastern University’s focus on faith and service does not align with my personal values and academic interests. Even though community service and leadership is an important quality, I would much rather attend a college that offers more critical thinking and academic rigor. Although I’m unsure of my major I would like to direct my studies towards stem based programs and classes due to my interest in those fields.  Looking at this college it seems that they only have a 40% graduation rate which makes me think otherwise about the students there and the opportunities for jobs and experience can be lackluster.

I would not want to attend Southeastern University due to the lack of program options in certain fields, such as my interest in stem as stated priorly. While the university offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, some students like myself may find that their desired majors are not available at the university. This may be a significant factor in a student’s decision to attend a particular college or university.

Another reason why I might not want to attend Southeastern University is because of the relatively small size. As I mentioned before, I would prefer a school that is more diverse, not just in terms of religion but more racially diverse. With its enrollment of 8,000 students, Southeastern University may not offer the same level of diversity, especially with its religious limitations; majority of them being white/black or Hispanic. In addition, with the institution’s location being a small town in Florida, it does not appeal to me, considering I like the energy of a larger city. Additionally, the location of the university may not provide a vibrant college experience. Which discourages my search for a lively campus with plenty of social and cultural activities.

Bio - Southeastern UniversityLastly, a main aspect of this college is its strive for athletics. As a person who is not particularly interested in physical sports this is a huge draw. Without a passion for their sports, I find that it may be difficult to fully engage with the campus and culture. This again gives a feeling of exclusion. Not only that, but because of their heavy focus on sports, the university’s resources and attention may be more shifted towards sports; rather than non-athletic programs. Which is a concern for me because I am not included in the athletic assembly. 

Overall, while Southeastern University may be a good fit for students who share Christian values and commitment to service, it may not be the best choice for me. Due to its limiting factors such as diversity, religion and academic focus, it does not align with my area of interest. While the university’s focus on faith might work with other students, it does not fit with me. Furthermore, its location does not provide the desired atmosphere. Not only that but the heavy focus on athletics is another negative for what I would look for in a college. I believe that it is essential to consider these factors before choosing a college to ensure a fulfilling and rewarding experience.

Southeastern University - Niche

Melyssa Munn

Posted on by
Reply

  Who is Melyssa Munn? She isn’t just the girl that sits in the front of the class; she’s full of curiosity, passion, and determination. Melyssa was born in Berryville a small town in Virginia on May 26, 2003. Melyssa currently attends Tucker High School but is a full-time dual enrollment student. She’s currently taking English 1102, Biology Lecture Lab, and Intro to Human Development while being in high school. She was home-schooled until 8th grade and with that, she had to teach herself fractions. When her parents decided to let her go to public school, they told her the high expectations they had for their kids when it came to school and grades. She has multiple siblings but looked up to her older sister Jessica the most who currently works at the CDC. Unfortunately, both of her parents passed due to cancer then the pandemic started. For most people, it would discourage them, but for Melyssa, it only made her more determined to make her parents proud. Some of her favorite things that she has done in high school were joining dual enrollment full-time, becoming the President of two honor societies: the National Honors Society and Beta Club, and actively running them. Melyssa wants to attend college at Emory, UGA, or Harvard to major in Psychology and minor in Neuro. She said that she “finds interest in why people do and think things”; since she likes to travel while in college she plans to study aboard. After graduating she wants to travel the world as a Traveling Psychologist.

  Melyssa has worked hard academically to be where she is today. So far in college, she likes that she’s able to make her schedule and how reposed to professors are. She has overcome many things, but her proudest triumph academically is how she was able to make it through school despite being homeschooled and then thrown into more complex curriculums while still struggling with the basics. Another one of Melyssa’s proudest moments academically was when she went head-to-head with another classmate for class President and won. Melyssa is proud of her academic self because, despite everything she has been through, she still has high expectations for herself. She decided to join dual enrollment to avoid taking multiple AP courses, continue the high expectations she has for herself, and maintain her mental health. Melyssa used “curious, creative, and problem-solving” as the three words to describe her academic self; she chose those words because she’s curious about what she learns, and even when she doesn’t find interest in what she’s learning, she finds something within the class that keeps her engaged. Since she was homeschooled, she didn’t learn good studying habits because she was mainly self-taught. Like many students, Melyssa procrastinates, although she did tell me during our interview that she works better “by herself while under pressure” of the assignment’s deadline. She likes the subject’s math and english, mostly math. Although one of her favorite books is “Book Thief” by Markus Zusak, which is about the holocaust while death is narrating it. As a writer, Melyssa would rather edit and revise her papers as she writes them. She says she “absolutely cannot stand rough drafts” like many, because “they feel so dirty and messy”. A lot of students including myself don’t like rough drafts, because it feels like wasted labor when we can just “edit our comments or return to clarify them”. Melyssa is a very determined person because she a lot to prove from the obstacles she has experienced throughout life.

  To conclude the interview with Melyssa, we’ve learned that she has high standards for herself. She’s well-rounded, always challenging herself academically, and being involved in multiple different activities. Her experiences do not define her, while the work she has done shows how determined she is to be successful. I want to leave you all with question, what keeps you motivated to succeed academically, even when it seems like the odds are against you?

 

 

Citations:

Melyssa Munn, Peer Interview: Academic Self

Laura Giovanelli, Strong Writing and Writers Don’t Need Revision: page 107, lines: 4-5

Rebecca Weaver, PhD. Major Project 1, Academic Profile. February 2023

Academic Profile: Christian Aycock

Posted on by
Reply

                        As a young adult, doing what makes you happy is the ultimate life goal. We spend day in and day out dreaming of what can make life reminiscent to what we envision life.  As an artist myself I understand the passion and fire it takes to fulfill a dream from a young age as Christian Aycock is currently doing. Christian Aycock, a seventeen-year-old musician is a true reflection of chasing your dreams from a young age. After numerous unsuccessful meetings on my part, I finally was able to sit down with Christian and discuss the components which make up his artistic and academic self.

                        What makes Christian so phenomenal is the multifaceted attributes of his life. A chorus singer from Drew Charter School to a Kroger courtesy clerk, advancing toward his dreams. All while being a part of a nine-sibling family, we can only imagine the beautiful chaos of his family. Being one of nine builds character, Christian described some of those character traits as determined, productive and helpful. All attributes that will assist him along his academic journey. Christian Aycock’s academic journey began as a typical K-12 experience. Commencing at Hope Hill Elementary and now Drew Charter School. Christian has dreams of continuing his secondary education at esteemed colleges such as Morehouse, Clark Atlanta and Georgia State University. In order to facilitate this goal Christian made good grades and became a dual enrollment student, which is how I met this wonderful soul. As a dual enrollment student, Aycock hopes to gain some college experience to aid in the transition from high school senior to college freshman. Aspiring to live out his dreams as a music conductor and music composer. While diligently participating in academic pursuits.

Manuel’s Academic Profile

Posted on by
Reply

Manuel Alcoser-Mejia is a Freshman at Georgia State, and he graduated from Macintosh High School. The main reason he is going to college is for his family.  Both of his parents are immigrants, and he is a first-generation college student. One of the bigger reasons his parents moved here was better opportunities to go to school. If he doesn’t go to college, he feels like he will disappoint them.  He has two younger siblings, 7 and 12, and he wants to set an example for them. 

His 3 words to describe his academic self are lazy, hard-working, and procrastinating.  If he could change anything about his work ethic, he would change his scheduling because sometimes there are conflicts with his schedule, and he does not really feel like doing something, so it is hard for him to find the motivation to finish it. His mom is his biggest influence on his academic self, as she pushed and helped him through high school.  

One of his favorite subjects is math, and that is the one he is most proud of. Sometimes it is hard to understand, but he likes learning it. He takes an online math class that challenges him. It takes him a long time to complete the assignments, as they are difficult.  The major he wants to pursue is engineering, as it was his pathway through high school, and he really enjoyed it. When he is older, he wants to become a mechanical engineer. The article I feel that most relates to him is Intro to The New Education because he wants to not just learn technology, but also apply it to help the world. He wants to set an example for his younger siblings so that they too can go to college. These ideals are very important to him.  

In high school, he felt stressed with the SAT test, as he didn’t know how much it influenced college decisions. Towards the end of the year, he realized this and booked a last-minute SAT, and it was the last one he could take.  On testing day, he forgot his ID, so he had to go back home and grab it. When he got back, the doors were closed, but the people inside were able to bring him in at the last minute and put him in a different testing room.  

One thing about college that frustrates him is not fully knowing what classes he needs to do for engineering. He asked academic advisors, and he has a plan of classes he needs to do, but he doesn’t know if he needs to do them. If he could go to another school, he would go to Kennesaw and get a bachelor’s in engineering and a lot of his friends go there. He would also like to go to Georgia Tech because he believes it is the best in the state. He doesn’t know what degree to get yet, hoping bachelors then get a job. If it’s hard for him to get a job to get a bachelor’s degree, then he will go and get a masters. 

Audrey Profile

Posted on by
Reply

Audrey is a senior in Charter Highschool. When it comes to her academics, she sees herself as hard working, self-compassionate, and persistent. Since Audrey is a senior in high school, she was given an opportunity to do programs that could help with her academic self and for her final year she decided to join the dual enrollment program. Dual enrollment is a program that is common among every high school in Georgia. It takes any willing student that wants to go to a college to gain experience and even gain college credit.  

One of her main reasons for joining was that it was better than staying in school and getting caught up with classes she did not care about. It would also help her gain college credit that could help towards getting scholarships. When she first joined the program, she originally wanted to go to a college in the downtown area but did not have high enough grades to get into it, so she decided to go to Perimeter. Since she is a hard-working student, after a few months, she did end up meeting the criteria to get into the downtown college but ended up staying here in Perimeter. So far, while staying in this college, she has found nothing confusing with the challenges it has to offer and is confident with the challenges that may come up in the future. 

She hopes by the time she graduates that she can get in the college she wants to go to which is the University of Georgia. She has been wanting to go to it ever since she was in school and hopes that she will be able to qualify for it. Once she gets to college, she plans to get a master’s degree in something related to business. So far in her preparation for college, she has done the SAT. When asked about how it was, she said it was stressful and hard. She tried it a couple times but was not able to get the scores she was hoping to get. She eventually hired a tutor that helped her finally get the scores that she wanted. She did not give up and kept trying to become her best academic self with her persistence. 

She has worked hard to achieve her goals like joining the Dual enrollment program, working on getting better SAT scores, and working on her academic self. When looking at all the things she had to do to achieve what she wants it reminds me of a sentence I read in the “The New Education” “students are on a journey, making sacrifices of time, money, and attention to strive for a significant change in their lives” (Davidson 3) which she is clearly doing. In a way it makes me feel motivated to work on my academic self and hopefully for others reading this it can help motivate themselves too.  

Tom Nguyen

Posted on by
Reply

The person I interviewed is Tom Nguyen. He is a dual enrollment student at Georgia State Perimeter College. He is a junior in high school and attends Dekalb Early College Academy. He has lived in Stone Mountain, Georgia all his life. He refers to himself as a gamer who prefers first-person shooting games. He is also considered to be well-traveled. He has been outside the country multiple times and has been to Japan and Vietnam, his home country.

Three words that Tom chose to describe his academic self are “out of the box, creative, and different”. His biggest influencers for his academic self are his family, more specifically his two older siblings and his parents. His brother, was the one to pave his path of going to the same high school, doing dual enrollment, and then later going to Georgia Tech. Although he has realized that he doesn’t want to follow in his footsteps completely but wants a head start in college. As of right now Tom does not have a major but has an idea of what he wants to major in computer science.

This being his second semester at GSU, he is really enjoying his time here. He appreciates the certain freedom that comes with college and professors not hovering over you the way high school teachers do. Things that frustrate him about college is the way professors use multiple sites when it comes to assignments, it becomes complicated to check everything so that you won’t be late or miss assignments entirely. In the video, “Developing a Mindset for Successful Learning” by Dr. Chew, he speaks about the 10 study strategy principles. One of them is, “successful learning requires planning ahead”. This can be related to the multiple sites, being that communication with your professor is very important to the planning process.

Not really knowing what aspect he wants to focus on within that major, he is confident that he wants to work with technology because it is something he is passionate about.

 

Chew, S. (n.d.). How to study. How to Get the Most Out of Studying. Retrieved from https://www.samford.edu/departments/academic-success-center/how-to-study

 

Academic Profile Zen Moss

Posted on by
Reply

This is the academic profile of Zen Moss, the information provided through an interview with said person. During our interview went over my academic profile, personal career goals, and more. Zen is only seventeen and doing dual enrollment. Showing excellent drive and consideration for his future and its immediate success. Attending Charles R Cater High School. When most high school students are preparing for finals, Zen is stacking that pressure with college courses. His major is undecided but has does have a vision of sports management being a serious field of interest for the young man.

Zen describes his academic self with these three worlds. The first is relaxed as keeping calm and not letting the stress of the classroom, class load, and learning new skills stop him from being tense or hesitant allowing him to be more productive in class. Zen’s second was “clutch” which is just his way of saying get it done. Last, but not least is engaged which is Zen’s laser focus when it comes to his duties. Which is best personified by him being a dual enrollment student. When we discussed why he choose GSU he told me it was his only choice. Clarkson campus was picked among the many choices for its free accessible gym. His only dislike when college being its price which I agree with.

Zen has a high interest in history which is no surprise since sports analysis is majority journalism. When asked what where his biggest influence on my surprise despite his sports background he didn’t choose an athlete. Zen choose his mother as the biggest influence in his everyday life and his academic progression. He attributes his best quality influence is the ability to deal with huge workloads for his mother. I can tell you from my experience through our interview he has a lot of love and respect for her.

Even though Zen’s major is undecided right he has lofty goals. He has an affinity for sports and a passion for them when asked the immediate goal he wanted to pursue is sports analysis. Right now, he isn’t taking any classes on his goal as said before he still is undecided. The classes he is taking are English and critical thinking. He believes a major reason for his success is his mother as she pushed him daily to strive for better. Even though Zen naturally has a land-back nature he proudly produces results with his persistence. He will get it done by any means. As he has a condiment to live up to the faith placed in him by his mentor (coach) and his mother.

Academic Profile: Asia Shakir

Posted on by
Reply

Beautiful sunsets from around the world | Velvet Escape

Over the last week, I had the chance to get to know one of my colleagues a little better, Asia Shakir. As of right now, Asia is a student at GSU enrolled in her first year of a dual enrollment program and is in her senior year at the Drew Charter School. For the majority of her academic life, she has only ever attended this one institution. This being her last year, Asia has made the great decision to venture out and learn about the world of college. Things seemed tough for her in the beginning, but Asia is one passionate student who is determined to “stick it through” to the end.  

When I asked why she decided to enroll in GSU’s dual enrollment program, Asia answered it seemed a great fit for the pre-college experience and to explore the many opportunities it had to offer. As her senior year comes to an end, her full college years are to begin. She plans to major in Business, aspiring to own her own business someday. One thing that you may not know about Asia is that she is a student with many talents. In the world of cosmetology, Asia has honed her skills as a nail technician and hair stylist. With a passion for beauty and a drive to continuously improve, she aims to expand her services and grow her expertise in the industry. 

Regarding academics, it is no question that Asia has an aptitude to learn. However, the things that really motivate her are the idea of completing things to the end and her Aunt Chynahn.  When it comes to college, Asia believes that investing in her education is something that in the long run will help develop her skills and that “sticking it through” will benefit her.  At first, I didn’t quite understand what she meant by sticking it through. Through discussion, I learned that she meant college, for her, is more than just getting a degree, but learning meaningful principles she can apply to herself later in life. Kind of like the ones from Stephen Chews’ studying videos. She resonates with his enlightenment and has taken a liking to his straightforward teaching.   

Stephen Chew’s videos aren’t the only candid things that seem to impact her. Another major influence in her life would be her Aunt Chaynahn. Asia describes her as a force to be reckoned with. Her admiration for her aunt’s boldness and fierce attitude is something I noticed that makes her beam ear to ear.  I can tell that her aunt really motivates her to be the person she wants to be. Asia says her Aunt Chayahn is a person who sets her heart out to do what she wants and never lets anything stand in her way. She is motivated by this to complete her own journey through college and seeks to have a similar attitude of not letting any hardships get in the way (sticking it through).  

In short, what I’ve learned from Asia is that she is a person who strives for not only success but efficiency.  As she sets out into soon-to-be adult life, it can be said that with her willingness and determination, she can do anything she puts her mind to. It was an amazing opportunity to get to meet her and be able to talk about who her Academic Self is. I think she is on a great path to being the person she seeks to be.    

 

-Shakir, Asia. Interviews. Conducted by Shamis Saeed, Jan-Feb 2023. 

-Weaver, Rebecca. Class Lecture, Jan. 2023.