Sheryl Teague

Q&A Session with Peer Mentor, Sheryl Teague:

Q: Why did you want to become a Project CONNECT Peer Mentor?

A: I wanted to become a Peer Mentor for the opportunity to help others and help make their experience at SHSU the best possible. 

Q: What do you like best about being a Peer Mentor?

A: What I like best about being a Peer Mentor is the relationships built with my mentees and the fact that they trust me enough to come to me when they need help or just need someone to talk to.

Q: What group do you mainly mentor?

A: I mainly mentor first time freshman.

Q: What is your major?

A: My major is Criminal Justice with minors in Psychology and Political Science.

Q: What do you want to do after you graduate?

A: I do not know exactly what I want to do after I graduate, but I do know that I want to make a difference in at least one person’s life.

Q: Where are you from?

A: I am from Waco, TX.

Q: What do you miss most about high school?

A: What I miss most about high school is the Friday night lights and how my community stood behind our football team no matter what.

Q: What do you miss most about your hometown?

A: What I miss most about my hometown is my old job at Champs and the wonderful people I got to work with.

Q: What do you like best about college?

A: What I like best about college is the chance to do anything or be anybody you want to be.

Q: What do you like best about Huntsville?

A: What I like best about Huntsville is the small town feel and how the community supports our school.

Q: What is the strangest or most interesting thing you’ve seen or place you’ve been to while at SHSU?

A: The strangest thing I have seen while in Huntsville is the squirrels.

Q: What is your favorite free thing to do on campus?

A: My favorite thing to do on campus is play loteria hosted by the Program Council.

Q: What do you normally do on the weekends?

A: On the weekends I normally work and go to any sporting event that may be going on.

Q: Do you have any pets?

A: I do not have any pets even though I want a puppy.

Q: Do you have any siblings?

A: I have two siblings, a sister who is 17 and will be a freshman at SFA next fall and a brother who is 6.

Q: What has been the best moment of your life so far?

A: I can not pick a specific moment in my life that I can say is the best, each day is a gift.

Hope you enjoyed getting to know Sheryl! Thanks, Sheryl!

Angel McAdoo

 

Want to learn more about our Student Assistant, Angel McAdoo? You're in the right place!

Q: Why did you want to work for Project CONNECT?
A: I really enjoyed the program. I was aiming to work for nonprofits when I finished my degree and this was a good opportunity to get an idea of how they worked.  I was very comfortable in the office so I knew that I would enjoy working for them.

Q: What are your day to day job duties?
A: Entering contacts in Blumen, arranging files and books, making sure files are in order.

Q: Are there any special projects/services that you also work on?
A: I am currently working on constructing workshops fueled towards Seniors, Freshman, and for those who fear Public Speaking. I will also tutor or edit papers when necessary or help host events.

Q: What is your major?
A: Psychology

Q: What do you want to do after you graduate?
A: Work for a nonprofit helping either juveniles or battered women.

Q: Where are you from?
A: Tomball, TX

Q: What do you miss most about high school?
A: Being in the fine arts. I miss choir and art.

Q: What do you miss most about your hometown?
A: The people I know there.

Q: What do you like best about college?
A: The amount of freedom that I have to excel myself without outside pressure.

Q: What do you like best about Huntsville?
A: It has a lot of different feel without losing the small town feel that I had in Tomball.

Q: What is the strangest or most interesting thing you’ve seen or place you’ve been to while at SHSU?
A: I’ve been to the museum next to campus. I really enjoy the peacefulness of the area.

Q: What is your favorite free thing to do on campus?
A: the carnival

Q: What do you normally do on the weekends?
A: work my family’s business, do homework, relax when I have time with friends.

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: yes, I have adopted my roommate's cat.

Q: Do you have any siblings?
A: yes, one older brother who is 43

Q: What has been the best moment of your life so far?
A: Best moment so far had to of been when I was in high school I worked very hard for 6 years (jr high through senior year of high school) in choir to be in a top choir. I was accepted into honor choir my sophomore year and by senior year my choir was one of the top 10 in Texas and I was finally able to perform in front of all music teachers in Texas at the TMEA conference in San Antonio.

Claudia Gutierrez Espinoza

Project CONNECT's November 2011 Alumni of the Month is Claudia Gutierrez Espinoza! Claudia was kind enough to answer some questions on her college experiences and what she's doing now that she's graduated from SHSU. Thank you, Claudia!

Q: When did you graduate from SHSU?
A: December 2008

Q: What did you do right after you graduated?
A: Started working with Lone Star College- North Harris for their TRiO Talent Search program.

Q: What are you doing now? (job, graduate school…)
A: Still currently working with Talent Search at Lone Star College and I am looking into going back to school.

Q: What that a hard field or program to get into?
A: The process of finding a job right out of college can be a difficult one. Several students have the education but some do not have the experience needed for a specific line of work. It was not a program that I had first thought about working with but it was a program that did interest me. It was also something I was familiar with. I applied and I got the interview. The rest was history.

Q: What does your day usually involve?
A: Talent Search is a free college readiness program that assists students from disadvantaged backgrounds by providing them with the information and resources they need in order to go to college. I have a home office at Lone Star College, where I have meetings, complete paperwork, and develop curriculum and new events for our students. 80% of my work is spent at three of the six schools we service, working with sophomores and juniors. While at my schools I provide workshops all pertaining to college and how students can improve their educational and leadership skills. I also provide one- on- one advising session on careers and college.

Q: What do you like about what you’re doing?
A: Everything! Although I majored in health education and not too much on the education side. I still get to utilize some of the skills I learned in college. When we host events I am the go to person for science, health, and wellness workshops/seminars. I also enjoy the time I spend with the students I work with. I enjoy advising them with the correct career path that is specific to them. I help them explore their options and advise them not to settle.

Q: What do you not like about it?
A: When I see first hand what the student has to go through to get by. Some of our students have various roles at home besides being a child and a student. It is difficult to see them have to struggle at such a young age.

Q: Have you traveled anywhere special since graduating?
A: Yes, I do get to do some traveling with my job because we go on college visits to help students explore their college options. We recently took students to New York, which was a lot of fun! I have also been able to travel with family to various places that have all been special to me. As a matter of fact, my husband and I will be traveling at the end of this month to Jamaica, Grand Cayman Islands, and Cozumel.

Q: What is your favorite thing about being an alumni (not a student)?
A: I really enjoyed being a student at Sam and I do miss it but I am glad to be out in the real world living life and enjoying it to the fullest. I hated writing papers.

Q: What was your favorite thing about SHSU?
A: It's the total package! Great place to meet life long friends, great professors, beautiful campus, and great resources available for all students.

Q: What was your favorite thing about Huntsville?
A: The scenery. Nice quiet little town and if you want to have fun you can do that too! I would also enjoy the towns festivals.

Q: What was your favorite class or who was your favorite professor while you were in college?
A: I enjoyed every class except maybe POL SCI. :) I really enjoyed classes by Dr. Caroline Crimm, Caron Cates, Dr. Alessandro Bonnano, and Dr. Keathley.

Q: What would you do on the weekends when you were at SHSU?
A: I would have study groups with friends, go out to eat, watch movies, or just simply hang out.

Q: What advice would you give to college students?
A: Enjoy every last bit of your college life. Talk to your professors! They are great individuals who are willing to help out. Join a club or organization that fits your personality. Go to every event on campus! Go to the GYM! It's a great place to get healthy tips and stay in shape.

Q: If you were a high school senior again, what would you major and minor in?
A: I am not going to lie I was a bit indecisive, I was not sure if I should go into Education, Health or Nursing. I ruled out nursing because it was not offered and was not sure about transferring. I stuck with health because it interested me the most. I still like health but I would go for Nursing.

Derrick Tate

Project CONNECT's November Student of the Month is Derrick Tate! Congratulations, Derrick!

Q: What is your major?

A: I'm majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry with a degree concentration in Pre-Medicine. 

Q: What do you want to do after you graduate?

A: I don’t know really what in the medical field I want to be at the moment, ultimately most of us have aspirations for being a physician, exactly what kind I want to be is still undecided. I would also love to coach football, as a second choice. If you ask anyone who knows me I know my sports and I watch and pick at what football teams do wrong while watching games.

Q: What do you miss most about high school?

A: The things I miss most about high school are my friends and favorite teachers and playing football.

Q: What do you miss most about your hometown?

A: The thing I miss most about my hometown is my family and friends. 

Q: What do you like best about college?

A: The thing I like best about college is the freedom. 

Q: What do you like best about Huntsville?

A: The only thing that I like about Huntsville is that it’s close to my hometown, Houston.

Q: What is the strangest or most interesting thing you’ve seen or place you’ve been to while at SHSU?

A: You don’t even want to know what is the strangest thing I have seen since I’ve been at Sam Houston, trust me.

Q: What is your favorite free thing to do on campus?

A: My favorite free thing to do on campus is going to the tailgates before the football games, there’s free food, prizes, and fun.

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: I really don’t have a particular favorite movie; my favorite genre is horror or scary movies. I can watch them for hours.

Q: What is your favorite sport?

A: My favorite sport is football; I played it from middle school to high school, and love to watch NFL and college football.  

Q: What is your favorite artist or band?

A: I don’t really have a favorite artist or band; I listen to all kinds of music if it’s good. I listen to country, r&b and hip hop, zydeco, and gospel music.

Q: What do you normally do on the weekends?

A: Normally on some weekends I go home, but if I do stay on campus on some weekends, I typically do nothing, since everybody else go home and there is nothing to do. If there is a Sam Houston sports game I go to them, football, basketball, volleyball, etc.

Q: Do you have any pets?

A: I do not have any pets and haven’t had one since my Rottweiler died my sophomore year in high school. 

Q: Do you have any siblings?

A: I do not have any siblings, I am the only child, but it doesn’t mean I am spoiled if anything I’m far from it.

Q: What has been the best moment of your life so far?

A: The best moment of my life so far is graduating from high school, hopefully in a few years it will be shadowed by another graduation, from college.

James Whitla

 

Get to know James Whitla, tutor for Project CONNECT!

Q: Why did you want to become a Project CONNECT Tutor?
A: I became a Project CONNECT tutor to help give students a better understanding of the material he/she is learning in his/her classes. Collegiate classes are difficult and I am here to help.

Q: What do you like best about being a Tutor?
A: I love it when a student learns something that he/she didn’t understand before and walks away knowing the material thoroughly.

Q: What subjects do you tutor?
A: I tutor Math, and Physics. I can also help with Paper Edits and Study Skills to improve study habits and confidence in learning course work.

Q: What is your major?
A: My major is Theatre with an emphasis on Acting/Directing.

Q: What do you want to do after you graduate?
A: I want to direct and stage manage film, and stage productions.

Q: Where are you from?
A: I am from Magnolia, Texas.

Q: What do you miss most about your hometown?
A: I miss the large open spaces and isolation feel when living at home.

Q: What do you like best about college?
A: I like knowing that at the end of my college career that I have improved my education very greatly and am ready and confident to work in my field.

Q: What is the strangest or most interesting thing you’ve seen or place you’ve been to while at SHSU?
A: The strangest thing I have seen was an interaction between two people at the LSC Mall area that almost got physical. The verbal argument was very intense before people nearly pushed one another.

Q: What is your favorite free thing to do on campus?
A: I like seeing shows at the Theatre Department.

Q: What do you normally do on the weekends?
A: During my weekends, I work in Downtown Houston,  do homework and sometimes lounge around my apartment here in Huntsville.

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I don’t have any pets currently.

Q: Do you have any siblings?
A: Yes I do have siblings. I have two brothers and one sister.

Q: What has been the best moment of your life so far?
A: I have too many proud moments of my life to narrow it down to one moment of my life specifically.

Thanks, James!

Leland Bruce

Get to know, Leland Bruce, Peer Mentor for Project CONNECT!

Q: Why did you want to become a Project CONNECT Peer Mentor?
A: I enjoy helping people and I wanted to give back to the organization that helped me get to where I am today.

Q: What do you like best about being a Peer Mentor?
A: Seeing my students become successful, not just class but in their everyday life.

Q: What group do you mainly mentor?
A: Males

Q: What is your major?
A: Mass Communication (Broadcast Journalism)

Q: What do you want to do after you graduate?
A: Pursue a career in the sports media field and eventually become a Lead Director.

Q: Where are you from?
A: Dallas, Texas

Q: What do you miss most about high school?
A: Playing Basketball

Q: What do you miss most about your hometown?
A: The food and my family

Q: What do you like best about college?
A: The exposure to a variety of many different cultures, events, and activities. 

Q: What do you like best about Huntsville?
A: The support the university gets from the City of Huntsville.

Q: What is the strangest or most interesting thing you’ve seen or place you’ve been to while at SHSU?
A: I would definitely have to say the Sam Houston Camp Grounds would be the most interesting place I’ve been to while at the university.

Q:  What is your favorite free thing to do on campus?
A: Go to the gym and workout and play basketball.

Q: What do you normally do on the weekends?
A: Work at Olive Garden in Conroe.

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I have one dog (German Rottweiler) named Blade, who was born Christmas 2010.

Q: Do you have any siblings?
A: I’m an only child.

Q: What has been the best moment of your life so far?
A: I’ve had so many great moments in my life I really can’t just pick one. 

Thanks, Leland! Be sure to stop by during Leland's Office Hours to say "hi".