Okay, let’s meet Bryce. He’s a senior, agricultural communications major, from Perry, Georgia. From the time he arrived on campus, Bryce has been an active leader in several organizations on campus, and he’s gonna tell us about the unique traditions that make ABAC so special. Take it away Bryce.
– Gee haw, woo back and a big old howdy from us here at ABAC. We’re excited to have you here, Alex. When I was thinking about college, I knew that I wanted that small town feel. Once I toured ABAC, I knew that I had found the college that would gimme a unique and life-changing experience. ABAC is known for its awesome traditions. Some of my favorites are the ABAC Rodeo, the Truck and Tractor Pull, also known as the loudest night on campus and of course, homecoming week. Where students and alumni come together to celebrate our alma mater. And let’s not forget our most famous tradition and my personal favorite fried chicken Thursdays, even our mascot Thunder wouldn’t miss one of those. All of these traditions connect Stallions, all across the country. ABAC students are given the opportunity to do some pretty awesome internships. I’ve interned with political campaigns, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and the US House of Representatives. And it’s not just internships, ABAC graduates go on to attend prestigious veterinary schools, medical schools, and so much more. From our nation’s capital, to ranches in Wyoming and everywhere in between, ABAC Stallions can be found anywhere. Thanks to ABAC, I’ve made lifelong friends with students, faculty and staff. I’ve discovered new passion and made lasting memories. I have no doubt that ABAC can do the same for you. We hope to see you soon. Take it back Alex.
– Wow, Bryce. I can feel the genuine love you have for ABAC and I’m definitely ready to join you and Thunder for a fried chicken Thursday, when I come back I’d like to introduce you to Sarah, a junior nursing major.
Alright, let’s meet Alex, who’s a sophomore, rural community development major, who found ABAC all the way from Germany. Even though that’s a long way from Tifton, Alex found that getting involved at ABAC made it so much easier to adapt to new surroundings. It’s all yours, Alex.
– This means, hey, Alex, and what’s up y’all? I’m from Germany and I’ve always wanted to come to the US. My dream was to become a professional soccer player. To keep it short, I attended the soccer tryout. I received the soccer scholarship and now here I am in beautiful Tifton, Georgia. I love that I can combine my education and soccer in one place. The country and culture was new to me, but ABAC like the Annual Fall Festival and Spring Fling, the Truck and Tractor Pull and our Rodeo, which are just some of the biggest events at ABAC, made it easy to meet people and make friends. Some of my favorite things to do here are of course play pickup soccer, but also go bowling in Tifton. This semester, I even started fishing on campus at Lake Baldwin, which I really enjoy. I also love going to the gym. It’s so much fun to see your friends, but also great to meet new people around campus. I’m also planning on playing intramural softball this spring, which I’m very excited for, since I’ve never played it before. I became a residence assistant after my first year here. Now, some friends and I even started a new club for internationals to meet peers with similar experiences and learn about different cultures. I learned so much more, not just about American culture, but also about myself. I have made many friends for life and I’m really grateful for everything I’ve experienced. I can’t wait for what comes next. This is it from me and catch you later Alex.
– Nice cast. Wow, I have to brush up on my German, Alex, that was amazing. It sounds like if someone is involved in almost any athletic activity at ABAC or in Tifton, there’s a good chance they’ll run into you. Thanks so much.
Let’s meet Miracle, who’s a senior, majoring in rural community development. Not only has she worked hard in the classroom, but on campus as well, so she knows that ABAC is one of the best collegiate values around. Miracle, you are on.
– Thanks for the introduction, Alex. Hello everyone. After graduating from high school, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do. I had a lot of hard decisions to make. I didn’t know what to study, nor did I know what college to attend. I decided to come to ABAC because it was affordable, welcoming and provided a sense of community. And honestly, it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Attending ABAC has allowed me to step outta my comfort zone and meet so many amazing people. ABAC offers many student jobs and internships. I’ve been able to work on campus at the Stallion Shop, with Upward Bound and ABAC Housing. ABAC is the true definition of community. It’s like you’ve known these people your entire life. On top of work opportunities across campus, ABAC offers tons of financial aid, and gives nearly a million dollars each year in scholarships. In addition, ABAC offers in-state tuition, to students from Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. Although I attended ABAC to pursue my education, it has been so much more than just that. Being here has allowed me to grow on a personal level. I found my true self, new hobbies and interests and potential I never knew I had. Here at ABAC, not only are you prepared for your future, but we have thousands of alumni who are dedicated to making sure students like myself can graduate with as little debt as possible. ABAC guarantees to prepare students for grad school and their future careers. That’s all from me Alex, take it away.
– Great job Miracle. Graduating with little or no debt is music to any parent’s ears and you’ve set yourself up for success, so after graduation, you can be one of those successful alumni too. Way to go Miracle.
Okay everyone, let’s head over to meet Caitlynne. She’s a senior from Middelburg, Florida, majoring in agricultural communication. Growing up, Caitlynne loved to visit the Georgia Museum of Agriculture in Tifton. Now that living history museum is part of ABAC and Caitlynne works there. How cool is that? Tell us all about it Caitlynne.
– Howdy, Alex. One of my earliest childhood memories is traveling to Tifton and visiting the Georgia Museum of Agriculture or the GMA. Coming here sparked my passion for agriculture, led me to join the National FFA Organization, and eventually choose ABAC as my college destination. ABAC is committed to providing everyone with a hands-on learning experience. Students can study at locations like the Forest Lakes golf course, the Langdale Teaching Forest, or the GMA, where I work. ABAC being nestled right in the historic Piney Woods of South Georgia, makes it the prime location for the GMA. The GMA is an immersive museum and historic village, with endless ways to learn about the past, present, and future of agriculture. Since 2010, the museum has served as a living laboratory, providing hundreds of ABAC students with real world experience to prepare them for the workforce. ABAC also owns a nine hole golf course and a 1000 acre forest, where students in majors like forestry and turf grass management, can get their hands dirty to learn the things that a textbook just can’t teach you. ABAC hires 100s of student workers each semester. There are jobs available at the bookstore, ABAC’s Golf Course, in the tutoring center, and much more. Another unique benefit to being a Stallion, is keeping your own horse at the stables right here on campus. There are endless ways to get involved, make friends, and enjoy your time. I am forever thankful for the time that I have worked here at the museum. Not only am my graduating career ready, I have also developed some of the best friendships and mentors because of ABAC. From here in the 19th century, gee haw, woo back to you, Alex.
– Wow, you can bring your horse to college. Caitlynne, that is amazing. I love that ABAC has so many opportunities to learn outside of the classroom, its own golf course, its own forest and that really amazing museum of agriculture. Great job, Caitlynne.
I’d like to introduce you to Alecia, a junior majoring in livestock production. Alecia is an animal lover and she’s gonna tell us how the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources at ABAC develops leaders in the field that she loves. Let’s hear it Alecia.
– Thanks Alex. As a kid, I didn’t know anything about agriculture, but I had the desire to work with animals, which landed me here at ABAC, where every day feels a little more like home. At ABAC, our School of Agriculture and Natural Resources takes pride in the hands-on experiences they provide us. For me, it’s important to know your professor and talk to them on a more personal level, which really helps me grasp the material. Labs are eventful as we not only work with models and replicas, but we also work with the animals from our on-campus beef unit, the horse stables and our full functioning ABAC farm. Being hands-on and learning real world skills while still in school is extremely rewarding. In my reproduction class, we are assigned a group of pregnant cows and heifers. Throughout the semester, we go and monitor the animals. We report what we noticed them going through while preparing to cap. This course teaches us the process of reproduction, and the physiology of the reproductive system, while providing us a visual aid like no other. Meeting people in the ag industry and making connections prepares you for after graduation. From teaching ag, to building golf courses or if you just love animals like I do, the School of Ag and Natural Resources is the school for you. I am able to love what I learn and talk to people who work with agriculture for a living. Making ABAC more than a school, but a home. Gee haw from ABAC and back to you, Alex.
– I love it Alecia. Gee haw, back to you. Having those real life experiences as part of your class makes such a difference. There’s no doubt why ABAC is known far and wide as a leader in agricultural education and in so many different areas, nice work.
Texas A&M prioritizes, equipping students to be leaders after graduating. Let’s hear from Chandler, an industrial and systems engineering major. Her involvement in student organizations helps her find academic success in her classes and connects her with other students striving to do the same. Chandler, tell us about your Aggie journey.
Thanks, Alex. Howdy. After researching engineering schools that were both nationally ranked and close to home, I inevitably landed on A&M. Here I received the tools, knowledge and connections to make an impact on and off campus. I knew I was destined to be a leader at A&M. My role is on two fresh and executive boards and later serving as the membership chair for the National Society of Black Engineers or NSBE, and is representative for the Society of Women Engineers helped me gain an inside look into the engineering industry while connecting my learning from the classroom. Outside of engineering, I won the Pi Omicron Ms. Black & Gold Scholarship pageant for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, which exists to highlight the connections between confidence, etiquette, and success among young black women. As you can see, A&M offers a multitude of activities for students looking to lead others, find their community and represent their passions. Being a student at A&M is a big deal, and corporate representatives love to employ engineering students and graduates. Before beginning my junior year, I had two years of internship experience and a return offer for next summer. As president, I spearheaded the NSBE corporate mixer and connected our members to over 25 companies looking for NSBE talent. There’s no place like A&M to set you up for a successful future. I feel I’ve grown tremendously, not only as a student and a leaders, but also as a cultural responsible black woman during this social awakening. Less than 4% of engineering bachelor’s degrees are awarded to minority women, and I’m working every day to combat these statistics. Texas A&M’s award-winning programs and activities have placed me in a position to leave my mark on campus and look forward to post-grad life. Thanks for listening and back to you, Alex.
Thank you Chandler for showing us how you can learn to be a leader at Texas A&M. From freshman year to graduation, Aggies developed their skills and leave their mark on campus, but they are also preparing for the mark they will leave on the world after they graduate.
Meet Sarisha, she’s a junior majoring in allied health and she’ll tell us how Texas A&M prepares students for life after graduation. The Aggie Network spans the globe with over 520,000 students having attended Texas A&M since its establishment. That creates a vast network to lean on as students transition into their careers. Sarisha, tell us more.
Thanks, Alex. Growing up, I always knew I wanted to come to Texas A&M after hearing what a great place it was for my father who studied here as well. At first, I was a bit nervous about what it would be like to meet complete strangers and work with them in projects and in organizations, but once I got here, I quickly learned there was nothing I needed to worry about. There is truly a space for everyone here. I have met so many nice, interesting and accepting people during my time here, and they have all worked to form a special environment at this school. And once you graduate from Texas A&M, you get to join the Aggie Network, our extensive alumni network. Aggie’s help other Aggies during and after our time here, and that is what the Aggie network is all about. I personally work in an area where I get to talk directly to former students who come from all over the world forming a vast web of Aggies. Over 500,000 people have attended A&M, and those former students are passionate about connecting with graduating students to bring them into their industries and communities. Most have benefited from the Aggie network in some way, whether that be through finding work or connecting with people they may have met. We also have a career center on campus which provides workshops, advising and so much more to help Aggie’s connect with future employers. Alumni, and current students, like my father and I truly know the quality of the education and friendships we have here and that allows us to be successful and help others who have been in or are in our shoes succeed as well. Well, that’s all from me, back to you, Alex.
Thank you for telling us about your experience Sarisha. It sounds like the Aggie network and the Career Center are invaluable resources for students at Texas A&M. The Career Center is also available to Aggies after they graduate, which is awesome. Take care.
From wildlife and fisheries, to aerospace engineering, to visual and performing arts, students can conduct groundbreaking research and pursue any passion. Devante is a graduate student in the Department of Performance Studies. His time at Texas A&M has been defined by top tier resources and unique opportunities to hone his craft and help others. The stage is all yours, Devante.
Greetings Alex. I grew up watching kung fu thinking it’s the coolest art form, so I started training. I got my black stash, went to China, competed in the gay Olympics and realized that it’s a deeply healing and transformative practice. Here at A&M, the performance Studies Department is helping me to psychoanalyze these practices to understand how we can use them to heal ourselves. I’m supported by stellar faculty who listen to all my wild ideas and give me very helpful suggestions. I have access to facilities, musical instruments and props that I can use in my teaching and training and an entire collection dedicated to martial arts literature in one of the five libraries. I’m so lucky to have opportunities to teach martial arts philosophy and healing kung fu movements to students and faculty. This means I have direct feedback on the impact of my work, which is a rare opportunity. I’m also inspired by my colleagues who are doing really cool research on topics like improv comedy, international theater techniques, and music styles born out of struggle and strike. I also love how A&M is supporting the work that I do outside of school. I’m a monk who started a wellness business during the pandemic, and as things have opened up, I’ve gotten the opportunity to hold Qigong, dance, and meditation classes through the rec center and with some student organizations. Doing so has really helped others destress and deal with burnout. Before I came to A&M, I didn’t expect my research to expand this rapidly, but it did, and I’m grateful for all the support I’ve received, especially because I feel like I’m undertaking such important research. We all need healing right now. Back to you, Alex.
Devante, thank you for sharing the resources at Texas A&M help make the Aggie experience truly unique. Even with such a large student body, the campus boasts five libraries, three art galleries, and countless study spots and green spaces for students to learn and be creative.
Kim is a senior studying management, public health and entrepreneurship and leader of Maroon Out, one of the many traditions at Texas A&M. The student body and football fans take their loyalty and dedication to a whole new level by decking the entire football stadium, Kyle Field in maroon. Tell us more about it, Kim, take it away.
Thanks, Alex, and howdy everyone. I always knew I wanted to attend Texas A&M, but I’m not gonna lie, I was pretty nervous about how successful I was gonna be at such a big university. I knew I wanted to get involved and I knew I wanted to give back, but how could I, a first generation student do that? The moment I stepped on campus, all those nerves disappeared. Texas A&M prides itself on our 1100 student organizations. In my freshman year, I joined Maroon Out and applied for the leadership role. I served that year and have been blessed to continue to serve every year since. Maroon Out started in 1998 when A&M won against number two Nebraska. Junior class president at the time, Kyle Valentine wants give the Aggies an extra boost of spirit by matching Nebraska’s famous sea of red with an even bigger sea of maroon. Leading up to the game, 31,000 Maroon Out shirts were sold leading to a national shortage in maroon shirts. Every year since Maroon Out has created a shirt and proceeds have gone back to traditions and supporting student organizations at Texas A&M. Student organizations provided me with more resources I never even knew existed and helped me build my Aggie network. Every chance I get, I will always advocate for involvement on campus because it will provide you an opportunity to serve others and give back in a way like no other. Looking back, I’d be a completely different person had I not joined student organizations, I probably wouldn’t even have the confidence to be on the show. It’s hard, but once you take a chance on yourself, you will make an impact, you will help others and you might even inspire someone else. Do you wanna get involved Alex?
Kim, thanks for explaining how getting involved can enhance someone’s college experience. We’re so happy Texas A&M’s traditions empowered you to share your leadership story, and to think it all started as one student’s initiative that turned into an annual display of school pride. Keep up the great work.
Texas A&M’s values of discipline, integrity, selfless service and honor are upheld by the oldest student organization on campus, the Corps Of Cadets. Here to tell us more is Grayson. Grayson is a business honors major and senior in the Corps Of Cadets. Lead the way, Grayson.
Thanks Alex and howdy y’all. My great-grandfather who was in the Core class of 1940, my mom graduated from Texas A&M class of 1993. Texas A&M has been in my blood for a long time. I’ve found something special at Texas A&M and within the Core of Cadets that’s more than a community, more than comradery, more than an education, it’s a family for me. In the Core of Cadets, every member lives in one centralized location on campus that we call “The Quad.” We begin every morning with formation, followed by an hour of physical training and breakfast in Duncan, the cadet dining hall. After breakfast, cadets clean up and prepare for the academic day. Once classes are done, we have afternoon training time. This could be a former student speaking on a career path or practicing drills together for the upcoming football march in. In the evening, we gather on the quad where we honor the colors, our official flags and march into Duncan for another meal together. The day is concluded with evening study time or organization meetings. Everything during our day is centered around learning to lead during our time at A&M. Students are not participants, we run the program. In the Core, we do hard things that matter. Knowing that our hard work will make us the world changers of tomorrow. We make leaders of character that care about leaving a positive legacy in the military, the private and public sectors. From here, we march on. I plan to start my career as a strategy analyst at Deloitte Consultant. I know that I’m not simply taking an education with me, I’m taking away a holistic experience that is preparing me to lead well and adapt on all fronts. Back to you, Alex.
Grayson, thank you for telling us what you’re learning as a member of the core and Texas A&M. It sounds like you’re making the most of your time in Aggieland and it looks like your time and effort will equip you for success after graduation.