Student Reflection: Paige McCoy
University Communication
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05/02/2019
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Paige McCoy speaks at the College of Arts and Sciences Celebration of Excellence on April 6, 2019. McCoy is a graduating senior majoring in History and Classics and Religious Studies with minors in Business, English, Communication Studies, Digital Humanities and Latin.
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- [00:00:00.336](light music)
- [00:00:02.760]I am honored to represent the Humanities portion
- [00:00:05.280]of this college.
- [00:00:06.300]I was one of the proud, few, very few,
- [00:00:09.940]55 freshmen to enter as a Humanities major
- [00:00:12.860]in fall 2015.
- [00:00:14.720]Growing up, spending hours reading
- [00:00:16.300]the Dear America book series,
- [00:00:17.770]I always knew I wanted to be a history major.
- [00:00:20.360]But the main reason I became one
- [00:00:21.670]at UNL was the faculty.
- [00:00:24.080]I met Dr. Tschetter, and other history professors,
- [00:00:26.210]on a campus visit, and over the course
- [00:00:28.070]of an hour discussion, they told me everything
- [00:00:30.410]I could do as a history major at UNL.
- [00:00:32.600]And it sounded so exciting, that I knew
- [00:00:34.670]this would be the place for me.
- [00:00:36.960]Over my four years, I've been especially impressed
- [00:00:39.800]by the faculty and staff's willingness to help.
- [00:00:42.640]When I needed a contract of course for honors,
- [00:00:44.710]every professor was willing to work with me.
- [00:00:47.290]When I reached out with problems
- [00:00:48.680]over e-mail or during office hours,
- [00:00:50.460]I got enthusiastic assistance.
- [00:00:53.110]When I needed a faculty thesis advisor,
- [00:00:55.200]I went to Dr. Mahoney's office hours
- [00:00:56.778]without ever having met him,
- [00:00:59.130]and asked him if he would advise my thesis,
- [00:01:01.080]and he agreed.
- [00:01:02.620]His guidance was invaluable.
- [00:01:04.560]Other professors like Dr. Loar,
- [00:01:06.040]in the Classics department,
- [00:01:07.100]have always been willing
- [00:01:08.190]to write a recommendation letter,
- [00:01:09.730]put me on a research project,
- [00:01:11.120]and offer advice about my future.
- [00:01:13.570]These relationships went beyond class relationships,
- [00:01:16.310]as Dr. Loar and I swapped podcast, movie,
- [00:01:18.630]and book recommendations.
- [00:01:20.290]Dr. Tschetter worried about whether I was having fun.
- [00:01:23.390]And Eric and Joanie from Recruiting
- [00:01:25.080]were actively engaged in my graduate school updates
- [00:01:27.710]and journeys.
- [00:01:28.810]These people truly cared about me as a person,
- [00:01:31.460]not just as a student.
- [00:01:33.460]I've also been lucky enough to serve as an ambassador
- [00:01:35.680]for the college the past three years.
- [00:01:37.930]At events we always talk about the college theme,
- [00:01:40.670]Academics Plus Experiences Equals Opportunities.
- [00:01:44.480]I've had a lot of opportunities
- [00:01:45.890]through the College of Arts and Sciences,
- [00:01:47.420]such as internships, study abroad, and research.
- [00:01:50.410]I only have three minutes, so I won't go
- [00:01:52.040]into further detail, but know that each
- [00:01:53.478]and every experience led me on my path today.
- [00:01:57.140]As a high school senior, I was the one asking
- [00:01:59.860]what are you gonna do with your history major.
- [00:02:02.040]As a class ambassador, I am now the one answering.
- [00:02:05.320]I plan on getting my master's degree in public history
- [00:02:07.610]and then working in the education
- [00:02:09.050]and interpretation department in a museum,
- [00:02:11.710]historic site, or national park.
- [00:02:13.900]I am currently on track to do this, hopefully.
- [00:02:17.100]A week after graduation, I'm moving to New York City,
- [00:02:19.770]not for my chance on Broadway,
- [00:02:21.710]but to work as a summer park ranger
- [00:02:23.350]at the Statue of Liberty
- [00:02:24.450]and Ellis Island National Monuments.
- [00:02:26.810]In August, I will be attending
- [00:02:28.220]North Carolina State University
- [00:02:29.920]to obtain my master's degree in public history.
- [00:02:32.730]I know that none of this would have been possible
- [00:02:34.550]without the College of Arts and Sciences,
- [00:02:36.220]so thank you to the deans, the faculty, the staff,
- [00:02:39.360]and all the other students
- [00:02:40.440]who've been a part of my journey.
- [00:02:42.290]As I sat in the conference room
- [00:02:43.910]on the sixth floor of Oldfather,
- [00:02:45.660]ready to defend my thesis in the same room
- [00:02:48.170]I decided to come to UNL in,
- [00:02:50.320]I thought of how my journey wouldn't have been possible
- [00:02:52.640]without the time, money, and dedication
- [00:02:55.410]that everyone I've encountered
- [00:02:56.600]in the College of Arts and Sciences
- [00:02:58.060]was willing to offer me.
- [00:02:59.690]This is a testament to the unbelievable faculty
- [00:03:02.290]and resources within the college,
- [00:03:03.830]setting students up for success.
- [00:03:05.970]You are the people who make going to school here
- [00:03:07.880]such a special and memorable experience.
- [00:03:10.350]Thank you.
- [00:03:11.906](audience applause and light music)
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