Laura JagGuide

As the holiday season approaches, specifically Thanksgiving, I find myself reflecting on all I have to be thankful for. Coming to the University of South Alabama and becoming a part of this family has been a blessing from the beginning. As a student at South Alabama I am most thankful for the professors and advisers that have helped me and influenced me along the way. All of my professors throughout my semesters here have been invested in my education and success. I have never felt like a number on this campus. I have been able to make connections with professors who would be sure to call on me by name and follow my progress to make sure I was on track to success. I had professors who personally e-mailed me and encouraged me to stay focused and continue to thrive while offering me letters of recommendation for scholarships if I ever needed them. I feel so fortunate to attend a campus where I am truly apart of a family. This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the University of

Moving away from home to a campus where I did not know anyone was difficult, but joining Greek Life at South Alabama was one of the best decisions I have made. During my freshman year, I went through formal recruitment and joined Kappa Delta Sorority. I found a home away from home and a family in over 100 girls who support me, uplift me, encourage me, and pray for me daily. Being in KD has changed me in the most positive ways. I was able to find a group of wholesome, genuine girls to surround myself with and I was able to get more involved in the community. We work with the Girl Scouts of the USA as well as Prevent Child Abuse America. Locally, we work with the Penelope House which provides safety, support, and protection to women and children dealing with domestic violence. We are also committed to building confidence in women and girls. Spreading confidence throughout our chapter as well as across our campus inspires me to build more confidence within myself and be an example to

Hey baby Jags! You are all almost through the first semester of your senior year and trust me, things are just going to continue to become more overwhelming as time marches on. The end of high school can be stressful, but it is also extremely exciting getting to close one chapter and start a new one. There were a few things I did personally to help me prepare for my transition to college and they definitely decreased my stress levels. First, TOUR CAMPUSES. If you are unsure about where you want to attend or you're stuck between two colleges, go visit each one. When I walked on the campus of South Alabama all of my doubts were erased and I felt at home automatically. Trust me, when you know you just know. Second, SCHOLARSHIPS. My entire second semester of my senior year was dedicated to finding and applying for scholarships. There are many scholarships throughout your community that you probably don't even know about. Go to your guidance counselor and they can help le