/news-archive/tag/graduate-success/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Fri, 13 Dec 2019 16:50:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /news-archive/2019/12/13/tichina-taylor-graduation/ Fri, 13 Dec 2019 16:50:54 +0000 /news/?p=75908 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock grad Tichina Taylor overcomes stroke to earn college degree]]> After her freshman year of college at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Tichina Taylor experienced a debilitating stroke. Thanks to her strong will to continue pursuing her degree, with lots of support from the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Disability Resource Center and Student Support Services, Taylor will graduate Dec. 14 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in sociology and a certificate in nonprofit management.听 How were you able to overcome the effects of having a stroke and complete your college degree? I was 19 years old when I experienced the stroke. It happened during the summer break after my freshman year at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. My family and I were shocked because we had assumed that only elderly people have strokes.听 A stroke is so frustrating. I was partially paralyzed and suffered memory loss. I couldn鈥檛 get my thoughts out, and when I did speak, I sounded like a preschool child. The stroke forced me to learn everything all over again. My memory couldn鈥檛 grasp any information given to me.听 I survived, though, and was determined to finish my education. So, I went to the Disability Resource Center at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and spoke to the director, Reed Claiborne, and he helped me. I was not going to give up on a college degree, and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock was committed to supporting my goal.听 The Disability Resource Center would ensure I had access to alternative formats of my textbooks and most other course materials that I could listen to for each of my classes. They notified my instructors of the appropriate accommodations for each of my courses. The Disability Resource Center focuses on making the learning experience accessible. The DRC helped me meet my needs as a stroke survivor. Student Support Services played a big role in my success, too. If I could not understand what I was reading or a concept from class, it used to make me so frustrated I would cry and not know what to do. Once I started working with tutors, I knew that I could highlight a passage of text or bring notes from class and talk with them about it. They helped me understand what I was reading and the concepts explained in class. It made all the difference in my ability to complete assignments. I discipline myself to always keep a smile on my face and never let myself give up. I also give praise to God. He helps me. God brought wonderful people into my life to support me, and opened my mind so that I can learn. I am so thankful for my professors鈥� support, the Mathematics Lab, Student Support Services, and the Disability Resource Center. I could not have completed my degree without each of them. Everyone who serves as a tutor on this campus personally benefits the lives of the people they coach, probably more than the tutors even realize. What are your goals and why did you choose to study sociology and nonprofit management? I鈥檝e been interested in the study of social problems since high school. My youth experience in the Boys & Girls Club鈥檚 Go Girls program shaped my thinking a lot in terms of what it means to live a healthy life with a positive mindset. My life goal is to open a nonprofit center to support verbally and physically abused women. I want to help other women learn to live a happy life, free from abuse. I鈥檇 also like to work in real estate. What does having a college education mean to you? 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has made a significant difference in my family鈥檚 life. My sister and I are first-generation college students, and our degrees are empowering us to contribute good things in the world at a higher level than if we hadn鈥檛 been exposed to higher education.听 My sister, , earned two degrees at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, all while raising young children. Her influence and support in my life has been amazing. We wrote a book together about my stroke and recovery. It鈥檚 called, 鈥�,鈥� and was published under her own business label, de. I am so proud of her. I want to encourage students who may be dealing with life struggles. Don鈥檛 give up! Life is going to hit you with many obstacles, but strive to achieve your goals and stay positive. You can and you will succeed. I made it.]]> /news-archive/2019/12/12/dylan-wright-graduation/ Thu, 12 Dec 2019 18:28:53 +0000 /news/?p=75893 ... Grad believes 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has prepared him for future career of public service]]> A University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate is grateful for the personalized yet flexible college education he received that helped him gain experience in politics, public policy, and nonprofits that will be invaluable to his future career.听 Dylan Wright of Little Rock will graduate Dec. 14 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science and minors in economics, math, and creative writing. 鈥淚 think the biggest reason that I attended 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is that I got the Donaghey scholarship,鈥� Wright said. Donaghey Scholars receive a financial package that includes full tuition and fees, a housing subsidy, a stipend, a study abroad experience, and a new laptop computer. 鈥淚 knew I would have a lot of opportunities to be flexible in my education,鈥� Wright said. 鈥淚 got to study abroad and take a bunch of classes in different areas. Dr. Jessica Scott and Dr. Simon Hawkins from the Donaghey Scholars Program have been amazing and helped me through any problems I鈥檝e had.鈥� The Little Rock native has also studied human rights and social movements at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. During his study abroad trip, Wright researched queer cinema in Argentina and the role it plays in citizen鈥檚 LGBTQ rights under the mentorship of Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and assistant professor of Spanish. He presented his research at the Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies conference in Mexico in March.听 In another research project, Wright is working with Dr. Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm, associate professor in the School of Public Affairs, to study the implementation of more than 1,000 recommendations of truth commissions in 13 Latin American countries. The truth commissions investigated histories of human rights violations. Wright and Wiebelhaus-Brahm have presented their research at the Law and Society Association conference and will present at the Midwest Political Science Association meeting in Chicago next year with support from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 presidential Studies Program. 鈥淒ylan has done some amazing things at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� Wiebelhaus-Brahm said. 鈥淗e鈥檚听 supported some of the most important nonprofits in our community. He鈥檚 worked on several election campaigns, ranging from mayoral to presidential. There are great things in his future.鈥� Wright remains thankful to the research opportunities he had with his mentors. 鈥淒r. Brahm and Dr. Finzer have been the two professors who have been the most active in guiding my interests and helping me explore the topics I鈥檝e been interested in, including human rights, international relations, and social justice,鈥� Wright said. 鈥淭he professors here have done a really great job of providing me with guidance and resources and passion for different areas that I am now interested in and want to pursue.鈥� During his time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Wright has become an active volunteer in the Little Rock nonprofit world. He has served on the advisory board for Lucie鈥檚 Place and the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Diversity Council. He has also volunteered with El Z贸calo Immigrant Resource Center, Heifer International, and the Clinton Presidential Library.听 鈥淚 started out as an English major, but I didn鈥檛 feel fulfilled,鈥� Wright said. 鈥淚 switched my major to political science. As I became more politically aware, I wanted to become more active in local organizations who are doing important work. I tried to dedicate as much of my time as I could to volunteering.鈥� In the political arena, Wright has interned for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, the Clinton Foundation, the Human Rights Campaign: Project One America, and two political campaigns. After graduation, Wright plans to attend a joint graduate program where he will attend law school while studying public policy. While he鈥檚 keeping his options open, Wright鈥檚 future career will most likely involve law, politics, and public policy. 鈥淚鈥檓 applying to graduate programs, but I do know I want my career to be nonprofit or public-service oriented,鈥� Wright said. 鈥淚 really want to spend my career helping people.鈥� ]]>