Being homeschooled isn’t as glamorous as some people think. I had a ton of books. I usually woke up at the same time as students in public schools. My grandmother, a former math teacher at Clinton High School, was my teacher.

The reason for me being placed in homeschool was because I was getting bullied in public school. Some of the students did not like that I could out-work them and sometimes they would take my homework and throw it away or just mess it up so that I couldn’t turn it in. So, from 4th grade through high school I was homeschooled. I thought about going to public school but I didn’t think I would integrate well – having been homeschooled for so long.

The transition from homeschool to Jackson State was a little bumpy at first, because I wasn’t used to a classroom setting. So I would just sit in the back, take my notes and then leave class. But my instructors have helped me come out of my shell. They would come up to me and ask if I needed help with anything. And they would do whatever they could to help me feel more comfortable in the classroom. To me, the best thing about JSU are the instructors.”

– Austin, sophomore biology/pre-veterinarian major from Jackson, Miss.

Growing up, I watched my mom struggle a little bit. She would tell me stories about how when she went to college, she signed up for two or three credit cards and messed up her credit. Now, my mom is teaching me how to save my money, invest and do better in life. So she’s teaching me from her mistakes. That’s where my drive comes from. I don’t want others to make those same mistakes.

Now I’m helping my sister since she’s coming out of high school next year. And I’m helping my cousin. I’m starting small so I can eventually have classes or seminars on how to manage your money the right way.

My ultimate career goal is to own a bank or maybe a branch of banks. I want to intern at Bank of America to learn how the system works and all the aspects of the business so when I decide to create my own, I’ll know where to start.”

– Keenan, junior finance major from Jackson, Miss.

The first cartoon character I would create would be based on my son. Actually, even before he came into the picture, I wanted to create cartoons with positive messages, and I wanted to incorporate black people and various other cultures. Now that I have my son, who’s mixed, I have to make sure that I incorporate Hispanic people and culture into my cartoons.

My son’s name came from God. I remember when I was going through what I was going through – my situation was very unfortunate. I stepped outside of God’s will, but God blessed and turned my situation around. And I never thought I’d be back in school. I sat out because of my son. I was like, ‘God I can’t go.’ But things just started happening at the last minute. And now, my son is my inspiration for me being here. His name is Chance because God gave me another chance to redeem myself and start fresh.”

– Terriannah, sophomore graphic design major from Jackson, Miss.

I wouldn’t say that industrial technology is a hard field. But it requires a lot of concentration. You’re dealing with electricity, which can shock you. So you have to take certain precautions and study more. You have to know the information, especially when you do labs.

There aren’t a lot of women in the field. In my classes, there are probably two or three, including myself. Since it’s male-dominated, you have to put yourself out there more. It’s not going to be easy.

But so far, my experience has been great. I got in honors college, and everyone there has been helpful. And the people in my major are helpful too. My professors are there whenever I need them – even after hours. So it’s been a great experience ever since freshman year.

As I go into my senior year, I hope everything continues to go well.”

– Tiffany, junior industrial technology major from Jackson, Miss.

I was supposed to be born in November, but I was born in June – four and a half months early. When I was born, I weighed 1 pound and 6 ounces and was as long as a new pencil. And I was breached. Also, I was in my third stage of blindness because my cornea grew backward. But miraculously, it didn’t get to the fifth stage.