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What was the biggest ‘culture shock’ or surprise you experienced during your first month at your new campus? The biggest culture shock was how engaged the students were outside of class. Everyone is doing something they are passionate about.
What was the most confusing part of the transfer process, and how did you overcome it? The most confusing part through the transfer process was less about transferring and more about getting over imposter syndrome. My best advice is don’t self-select yourself out of an opportunity.
“What was the ‘aha!’ moment when you realized Georgetown was the right fit for you? I have always wanted to work in Washington DC so the fit was natural. After participating in the Warrior-Scholar Project last summer on campus, I got to experience what the school and city have to offer. The rigorous academic environment with topics involving ethics and real world applications engaged me.
Was there a specific professor or staff member at ACC who mentored you or pushed you to take the next step? There were several ACC professors who made a big impact. The first of which is Professor Stegal. After being out of school for many years while in the Army I was nervous to come back in. Professor Stegal stayed after class many times and challenged me to become a better academic writer. He eventually wrote a recommendation letter for me to Georgetown. Professors Addis and English also helped me. On short notice they looked at my application essays to make sure they were well-written and clear.
What do you recommend ACC students planning to transfer should do to set themselves up for success? I would recommend doing your best in class but beyond that get involved in things you’re passionate about. Whether a school club, internship, or volunteer project, top tier institutions want to see the whole person. Everyone applying is striving for the best grades so use your extracurriculars to stand out.
Tell us about your higher education experience. My higher education experience is a lot like our ACC students. I was a transfer student that completed a General Studies in Arts before going to UT Dallas for Arts and Technology. I ended up changing my major once I got there and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Performance instead. (The Technology part was hard!) I learned a lot through my mistakes and really didn’t feel that I got my groove until a year after I transferred. I was so fortunate to land a work-study job in the business advising office at the school because they were able to become mentors to me while I was attending the school. I thank that office for sharing so much guidance that I was missing and ultimately put me on the path to help others in college in the same shoes as me.
What do you like to do outside of work? Do you have any hobbies or interests that you’re passionate about? I have gained a passion for improv acting in the past year! I am currently taking courses with the Hideout Theater in town and finishing the upper levels that go into long form narratives. My characters tend to be animated with distinct voices that my teachers have appreciated in the past. If I’m not on stage, I like to play on my Nintendo Switch searching for shiny Pokemon! Gotta get them all right?
What inspired you to work at ACC? What is your role and how long have you been in this role? When I graduated, I got a whole new career presented to me. I originally wanted to be an animator for 3D films like Shrek, but the tides and currents put me on the path where I felt my passion to help others is put to good use. I sought out a community college like my own to directly help students get to their degrees. I started at ACC in 2016 as a front desk advising assistant before becoming an advisor in 2018. In 2026 I joined the Transfer Services team and with my 10 years of experience, I feelI have much to offer students navigating college.
If you have one, can you share a success story of a student who you helped transfer to their dream school, and what advice do you have for other students who want to follow in their footsteps? I share the story of this student often of overcoming big challenges. During the 2020 lockdown period, I had an international student that returned home to South Korea and attended classes here at ACC. He scheduled many appointments with me while I was an advisor and I could see how difficult the time difference could be for him. He was in the top of his classes and achieved a 4.0 completely away from the country. During that time, he also worked hard helping others at home even while attending school full time. All his hard work came together with an offer of admission to UT Austin’s Computer Science program. I share this story with students to get them thinking how they can make an extraordinary difference on their own and what could they possibly offer to the college that is unique to them?
How do you stay motivated and engaged in your work, and what keeps you coming back each day? I have always said my motto was to “Offer the help I was not given.” I had a tough time during my college days and I think how someone could have noticed that I needed help when I was so shy to ask for it. I go out of my way to help students because I see myself in a lot of them. There is a calling to be a helper and I recognize that I am one of those people.
What is one thing that you wish every student knew about the transfer process, and how they can best prepare themselves for success? When transferring I wish I had helpful tools like the transfer guides that colleges like UT Austin and Texas State provide when I was in college. Now, more of these tools are available to students and I encourage you to review them frequently. Reviewing those guides help you see a clear picture of your future ahead of you in what your class schedules will look like and how they can apply. Additionally, trying to learn the terminology that comes in those guides will help you navigate the college environment when you are familiar with the various terms, such as core curriculum or transfer equivalency.
Do you have any advice for ACC students intending to transfer? Plan ahead! I always tell my students that you can’t get to the goal without a roadmap. You can be a lot like me stumbling through random classes, wasting time and more importantly money! Having a clear goal will help you fill in the blanks that lead to your future bachelor’s degree. Explore with an advisor, talk to a department representative in the field you want to pursue, browse college websites to check out their information pages, or come make a one-on-one meeting with a Transfer Specialist like myself!
Any last thoughts or advice? Getting through college is not easy. But remember there is help out there. It takes a village to get to any college these days so be sure to ask for help from your village of support. ACC offers numerous resources such as academic advising, tutoring, and even connecting you with some transportation help. I was very shy about asking for help when I was beginning my time at school and I kept saying that I will figure things out on my own. Sometimes it could be difficult to navigate college so you have to ask a professional. You wouldn’t start playing tennis unless you spoke with a coach first right?
Got news, tips, or a student you’d like to spotlight? We’d love to feature your contributions in our next newsletter!
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