Making Strong Connections with Aaliyah

Segment #6 from Our Lady of the Lake University

Transcript

Now, introducing Aaliyah, a senior majoring in biology with minors in chemistry and environmental science from Brownsville, Texas. Finding the right college for you can be hard, but after just one visit to OLLU, she knew this was the place for her. Aaliyah, tell us what it was that made you choose OLLU. Take it away.

– Thank you, Alex. Hey, y’all. When I began looking at colleges, I wanted to find a school where I wouldn’t get lost in a packed auditorium or a crowded classroom. I didn’t wanna be just a number. I wanted a place small enough to fit in to be known by my name. After one visit to our Lady of the Lake University, I knew it was the school for me. My first year took an unexpected turn. All my classes went online due to COVID, but the pandemic did not stop me from building connections with my professors. When in-person classes resumed in the spring of 2022, I immersed myself in campus life. I became a student minister and connected with students, faculty, and staff through our social and wellness events. I worked as a peer mentor, and became a member of the OLLU Honors Program, and that was just the beginning. I joined Sigma Zeta, the Math and Science National Honor Society, and then I became chapter president. Wow. We have strong math and science programs here at OLLU and many gifted STEM students. Alumni have gone on to become doctors, surgeons, optometrists, and dentists. I never thought I’d lead the local Sigma Zeta chapter, but serving as president has been fun. On Earth Day, our chapter held a fundraiser where a biology professor laid in a box full of creepy crawlers. Students paid to guess how many cockroaches it would take to cover our professor. The event drew local media coverage and raised enough funds for Sigma Zeta to attend the National Convention. Aside from Sigma Zeta, I also belong to the Ronald E. McNair Scholars program and the EcoJEDI Scholars program. Once I graduate, I plan to get my PhD, and come back and teach. Hopefully, with the same passion my professors have shown me. I’m so grateful. Back to you, Alex.

– Aaliyah, you are involved in so much on-campus. Wow. Students at OLLU can participate in a wide range of clubs, organizations, and honor societies, catering to various interests and fields of study. It seems like there truly is something for everyone here! Thank you so much for sharing your story. Take care.

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