SOAL Student Features

⁣Raequel Sank

⁣Raequel Sank, an English major pursuing minors in professional writing and information technology, changed her major twice before finding a permanent home in the School of Arts & Letters. Raequel entered MGA in 2015 as a new media and communication major, but a semester later, she changed her major to business administration. ⠀

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During her sophomore year, a professor told her about technical writing. Once she looked into it, she found that she had an interest in it and soon after, she switched to English and added the two minors. The addition of the two minors was a decision that was important to her because she felt it would allow her to graduate with the job-ready skills needed for the workforce. ⠀
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For three years, Raequel has tutored K-12 students in “all things” English language arts. From this, she found a love for working with and helping children grow academically. A goal of hers is to eventually open up an enrichment program that helps children from lower income families get tutoring resources and services such as SAT and ACT prep. In addition to this, she also wants to pursue a career in technical writing. Raequel decided to major in English because she saw that it would allow her to do both. She has the intention of pursuing her master’s in technical and professional writing after completing her bachelor’s program in the spring. ⠀
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Raequel initially chose to come to MGA because she found the smaller campus size welcoming and inviting. She knew that she needed a smaller, more intimate classroom setting to get the most out of her education. ⠀
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Since her start, Raequel has become a very involved member on campus. She is a resident assistant, a student worker for the department of English, and the president of the Model African Union. Through these positions, she was able to take part in various campus experiences and build relationships with her professors. She has enjoyed her time at MGA because she believes the connections she has made here are some that will last a lifetime and her connection with the university is one that she hopes to keep going as well. ⠀

Benjamin Fincher

Originally from Georgia, Benjamin Fincher has called states such as Texas, Virginia, and Washington home. Before finding his way to MGA a few years ago, he attended Washington State University (WSU) for his first two years of college. ⠀
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After trying out a few different paths, he had come to realize his love for history and English. At WSU, he became a history major with a minor in English, but when he made the transition to MGA, they did not have the same offering. It was then that he decided to pursue his bachelor’s degree in history. ⠀
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Upon his transition to MGA, he fell in love with the program and felt welcomed by his professors. It was during his time as a history major that he saw a huge improvement in his writing due to the focus on critical thinking and analysis. It was also the path that got him interested in technical and professional writing, which he is currently pursuing as a master’s degree at @soalmga. ⠀
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His favorite experiences at MGA have formed during his time in the ESO, the English Studies Organization. He became president in 2019; and since then, they have won club of the year, raised money for different causes, and hosted an academic writing boot camp as well as other fun activities like book club meetings and play outings. It is through this organization that he has been able to engage with the campus the most and form valuable memories and connections during his time as a student. ⠀
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He is also the Writing Center’s first graduate assistant. His favorite part about the position has been working with students one-on-one. He finds this aspect the most fulfilling because he gets to help facilitate their growth as students. ⠀
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From working in the Writing Center, he has come to realize how much he enjoys teaching and could see that as something he wants to do in the future. He has a love and passion for teaching people how to write and how to improve their writing. He would like to eventually pursue a Ph.D., but for now, he is diligently working towards completing his master’s program in the fall of 2021. 

Virginia Lee

⁣Having never felt like she fit into one category, Virginia Lee struggled to decide which bachelor’s degree she should pursue. She spent her first three years at Georgia Military College bouncing from major to major before getting her associate degrees in phycology and early childhood education. Drawn to MGA for its affordability and convenience, she was introduced to the interdisciplinary studies (IDS) pathway by Dr. Sheree Keith. ⠀
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Through this suggestion, she saw how diverse this major could be and how it could give her the freedom to come out of it and pursue many different directions. After seeing there was a pathway that fit her needs and that it would be doable at MGA, Virginia decided to pursue the next step in her education. ⠀
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This spring was her first semester at MGA. She is currently an IDS major with a concentration in new media and communications. She admits that prior to her time here, she was not tech savvy at all, but because of the experiences she has been exposed to, she now has strong skills underneath her belt. Virginia’s favorite course has been Intro to Media Production with Professor Lauren Cater. She has found the various projects challenging but enjoys opportunity for creativity. ⠀
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Throughout high school, she always wanted to be a counselor because of her love for children and passion for connecting and relating to other people. Before starting at MGA, she also really wanted to become a missionary, but that was a path that required a degree as well. This is a factor that ultimately led her back to school.⠀
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Majoring in IDS has allowed her dreams to not become restricted. Virginia sees IDS as a degree that could also act as a stepping stone if she decided on a pathway that required further schooling. Her biggest passion in life is talking to people, knowing people, and loving people well - which is why she could see herself doing almost anything and being happy in it. She wants people to know that going to MGA has made her better equipped for the road ahead and is a place that can help anyone reach their goals when putting their best foot forward. 

Kinsley Van Atta

Kinsley Van Atta started in the interdisciplinary studies (IDS) program spring 2020 after receiving two associate degrees in pre-nursing and general studies from Georgia Military College. After completing these programs that she began while being dual enrolled her senior year of high school, she decided that she wanted to stay in Warner Robbins which is what led her to MGA. ⠀
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Before pursuing her chosen path in communications and analysis, she had originally planned on going to nursing school. She grew up in and out of hospitals which fostered her passion for medicine. When she was unable to pursue this path herself due to her health, she then followed her other passion of writing. Since elementary school, she has enjoyed writing whether it was to express herself creatively or for research and technical writing. ⠀
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Kinsley plans to pursue her master’s in technical and professional writing immediately after completing her bachelor’s in spring 2021. Kinsley’s future career goals are to do communications research and analysis for a nonprofit or the government. As a communications analysts, she will be the person that figures out what to say and how to get the message across. ⠀
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Majoring in IDS has allowed her to pave her own way. With no traditional options for her to follow, she is able to play to her strengths in a way that allows her to reach these goals. In her degree seeking program, she is concentrating in new media and communications. Rather than pursuing a degree that is more production based, her IDS course selections have allowed Kinsley to take more communication classes which has given her new insights on how to be a more effective communicator. Her communication classes have been some of her favorite classes so far. ⠀
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She views MGA as a tight-knit community where she is able to form a bond with her professors and other individuals. This is one her favorite aspects of the university as it is something that differs from her previous experiences.

Hollyn Batchelor

Hollyn Batchelor, a South Georgia native, came to MGA straight out of high school in the fall of 2015. When considering where to go, the location was just as important as the institution having the program she wanted to pursue. She wanted to go somewhere close to home so she could stay connected with her family and long-time friends. She knew that MGA was the right fit for her from her first visit to the Cochran Campus. She fell in love with the beauty of the buildings, atmosphere, and surrounding nature. She describes it as a place that exudes “southern charm” which is a comforting aspect that she enjoys. ⠀
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Set to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in history and an associate degree in political science, Hollyn began her college career majoring in history with a certification in secondary education. She came to the decision to continue without the certification since it would allow her to take more history courses which is what she enjoyed most. This change gave her the opportunity to dive deeper and expand her knowledge in many different areas of study. ⠀
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Hollyn’s drive for more stemmed from her professors – who are her favorite part of the program. She describes them not only as helpful, considerate, and passionate about the success of their students, but also as individuals who excel in creating a learning experience that is both engaging and unique. The way her history professors teach brings the content and stories alive. The average “textbook lectures” are not the main focus, which has enriched her education. ⠀
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Hollyn’s interests lie in American history, but Georgia history is what she is most passionate about. Her dream job would be teaching Georgia history at the middle school level because that is where she first found her love for history. Her mother’s position as an educator had a strong impact on her as she grew up, which inspired Hollyn to follow suit. She wants to teach students about the importance of the past and how it has come to define our culture and who we are as people. She hopes to one day teach with the same passion and dedication that she had been exposed to during her own studies here at MGA.

Darius Flagg

Darius Flagg found his way to MGA in 2014 after spending his first year of college out-of-state at Mississippi State University. He chose to come to MGA because it was more affordable and had a lot of pathways he could pursue. His initial plans were to follow his interest in science and obtain a degree in biology, but after pursuing that path for about two years, he came to realize that career path was not for him. ⠀
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During the year Darius took off from school, he found his passion for photography which eventually led to video as well. It was important to him to get a degree since he would be the first in his family to graduate. He came back to MGA as a junior; and soon after, he changed his major to new media and communications (NMAC). Nearly three years later, Darius’ greatest passion lies in film because being creative allows him to express himself, his ideas, and his perspectives on things. ⠀
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His dream for the future is to direct and have the ability to make his own films. He is curious about the world and areas such as spirituality, culture, and the human condition are ideas he is interested in exploring in his own films.⠀
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He notes that the NMAC program is very interactive and gives student the ability to create their own projects, but the aspect he has enjoyed the most has been taking film analysis classes. He enjoys learning about the more analytical and historical side of film because it has taught him about cinematography and techniques other filmmakers have made which informs and influences his own works. ⠀
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Darius considers a degree in this field to be important because it helps one build connections and learn about aspects they did not know they could learn. His time at MGA has helped change his mindset about the world and become more engaged and inspired by his craft and as a professional, which he views as the two most valuable outcomes of his time as a student. 

Damian Danielly

Damian Danielly, a Macon native and New Media and Communications senior, started his college education not knowing what path to take. He came to MGA in the fall of 2015 having a deep passion for music, but at the time did not have a major to pursue that with. He soon found his place in the School of Arts and Letters’ NMAC program since he saw it as a great opportunity to work hands-on and learn more about other fields that aligned with his hobbies and talents.⠀
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He recalls Professor Cater’s class as a turning point for him. Through this production class, he fell in love with the art of photography, film, and storytelling. This spiked his interest in the film industry which led him to pursue a Film Production minor at MGA and a Production Certification through the Georgia Film Academy as well. ⠀
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Music is still one of his greatest passions as it is an outlet that allows him to express himself freely. Since early 2017, he has been posting his music to SoundCloud with dreams of one day moving to larger platforms. However, his biggest goal for the future is to one day own his own media business that allows him to combine and utilize all of his talents. ⠀
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His time at MGA has offered diverse experiences and an opportunity to explore new passions. He is always willing to help and be a part of the campus experience.

Kristen Imlay

Kristen Imlay started MGA in the fall of 2014 as a biology major with the intention of going on to medical school. When she was nearly complete with this degree, she switched her major to English. Kristen felt she needed a more employable path that did not require as much schooling due to her having two young children. English was a versatile route that aligned with her longtime love for literature, writing, and reading and one that she had always wanted to pursue. ⠀
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Kristen loves to learn and could see herself as a lifelong college student. She is currently looking into master’s programs with plans of working from home in the field of technical writing or online editing so she can be with her children while they are still young. She likes technical writing because she is more logical rather than creative and thinks very mechanically. Kristen still has a passion for the medical field and currently works for a doctor doing technical writing for her company. This allows her to work in areas related to both her previous and current majors. ⠀
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In the MGA School of Arts & Letters (SOAL), Kristen was able to take the English degree in her own direction and gear classes towards her interests which has allowed her to gain the skills needed for entering her desired field. Being a part of the Honors Program has been one of her favorite and most rewarding experiences throughout her time at MGA. She enjoys that the classes are highly individualized and allows for a more one-on-one environment with professors. She has even taken more than the required amount to graduate within the Honors Program because of the invaluable learning experiences they foster. ⠀
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Kristen wants people to know that changing your major at the end is doable if you persevere through the various obstacles you might face. SOAL professors have been there to guide her during that transition and are the individuals that have made her experience at MGA so great.

Josh Davis

Straight out of high school, Josh Davis began his college career at Georgia Military College before transferring to Georgia College later down the road. Since he was behind in his credit hours and unhappy where he was, he moved back to Macon so he could focus and figure out where he wanted to be. ⠀
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Undeclared until he arrived at MGA in fall 2019, this transition led him down the interdisciplinary studies (IDS) pathway. He is now leaning towards majoring in new media and communications since seeing the field’s heightened significance and possibilities for growth in the future. Though the path he will pursue is not certain, he now has more of a direction, which is something he did not have before. ⠀
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Josh’s favorite part of the IDS program is that he has been able to learn so much more than he ever could have imagined in a variety of areas and topics. Courses such as News Writing and Reporting, Cultural Studies, and Cinema Studies have opened his eyes to new concepts and taught him about areas which he has a newfound interest in. Public Speaking, a course he is currently taking, is one that has helped him tremendously. His communication skills have been tested and improved which is something he considers to be helpful in every aspect of life. ⠀
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One of the most important things college has taught Josh is that he is capable of more than he thought. He recalls not trying as hard when he was younger due to his main focus and passion lying with sports, but he has come to realize how important and rewarding it is when he truly applies himself to everything he does.⠀
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One thing he wants people to know is that anything is possible when you put your mind to it. Before this shift in mentality, he knew he had not maximized his potential. He has now seen academic success through his hard work which has landed him a spot of the Dean’s List at MGA. This is an achievement he is proud of and a goal he will continue to set for himself as he progresses on this path with more possibilities for the future opening with each step he takes.

Autumn Murray

Autumn Murray, a New Media and Communications junior, has been connected to photography since a very early age. Her two greatest passions, photography and travel, stemmed from access to her mother’s camera and her family’s frequent camping excursions. ⠀
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This combination has heavily influenced her nature based photography style and her adventurous nature. It is her dream to one day become a travel photographer so she can use her talents to capture objects in a new light and introduce people to places that inspire adventure. ⠀
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Knowing she wanted to pursue photography, she found herself at MGA straight out of high school. She entered the NMAC program since it covered a wide range of creative outlets that she was interested in learning and expanding her skills in as well. ⠀
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Aside from photography, the area the program allowed her to grow the most in was her communication skills. She described that as something she struggled with in the past, being shy, but her experiences and coursework at MGA has helped her grow out of that. Not only has it helped her to more easily interact with others, but it has also prepared her in marketing her own self in a confident manner. ⠀
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While photography is still the outlet she uses to express herself the most, the School of Arts and Letters has helped her find her voice so she is able to do so just as well verbally as she does visually.

Joey Bronner

Joey Bronner is a Macon native majoring in contemporary musicianship with a focus on jazz piano. He returned to MGA in 2019 after attending a few other learning institutions which included his completion of Toccoa Falls College’s associate degree credit in music performance and his professional drummer certification from the Atlanta Institute of Music in 2009.⠀
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Before starting back at MGA, he had been performing as a professional musician. Despite this experience, the program has still allowed for growth in his performance quality. It has also challenged him to perform and analyze musical pieces that expand his stylistic approach and music theory. ⠀
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Currently working as the music director of Bibb Mount Zion Baptist Church and as a private instructor with Guitar Center Studios, Bronner’s goal is to increase the monetization of his passion. He believes that furthering his education will allow him to be prepared for an array of different occupations in the area of music. He also hopes that it will allow him to build his musical talents further and give him the opportunity to share, encourage and teach others who have similar passions. 

Sarah Miller

Sarah Miller is an art major who came to MGA in the fall of 2018. Originally from a small town in North Georgia, she decided MGA was the right fit for her first year of college after seeing the university’s smaller campus size. It was also a way for her to experience a different part of Georgia away from the familiarities of her hometown. ⠀
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Miller’s favorite course has been 3D design because it has given her the opportunity to work with her hands and build things which is something she enjoys. Although she usually prefers traditional art methods, she has recently been experimenting with video production and digital drawing. ⠀
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Her goal is to eventually find a career in the technical animation/ game design field. Getting her art degree is important to her because she knows it will help build the skills needed to put her on the right path.