BY: Allison Stewart
Everyone has a different college story. Not every student is a recent high school graduate or began their college journey as a Warhawk. AUM provides the tools for all types of students, whether they are traditional, nontraditional or transfers.
Antoinique Smith and Jesse Guffin did not begin their college journey at AUM. Antoinique transferred from De Anza College in California in 2018. Jesse transferred from the main campus of Auburn University a little over two years ago. Now, both aspiring Warhawks are pursuing their degrees in sociology.
At the start of her academic career, Antoinique knew sociology was her desired field. Here at AUM, her favorite thing about the program is the opportunity she has to learn about who she really is. Antoinique explained that many people do not realize how they have evolved and what factors impacted the way they view the world and other people. Sociology allows her to dig deeper into social constructs and question how and why people respond to certain situations.
Antoinique loves meeting new people and learning about their personal stories.
This semester, Antoinique’s goal is to do well in Dr. Feltmate’s class. As many people know, his courses are some of the most difficult on campus. Antoinique is not going to let that stop her from performing her best, though. Additionally, she desires to retain as much information as she can, especially from the upper level courses. She understands the true power of knowledge and how relevant the information will be in her future career. One day, she hopes to work in the social work or counseling fields. She wants to help single parents transition back into society and be successful in the workforce. She is also interested in working with a group home.
When asked about her favorite thing about AUM, Antoinique responded, “The interaction with the professors and their availability. They are always willing to guide the students in the right direction for their career path.” If she were to give advice to an incoming sociology major, she would share that you need to be open to all of the information you learn. Most of it will change your whole perspective on life itself.
As a mom of four and military spouse, saying that Antoinique is busy is an understatement. Her family is her whole world. She identifies herself as a sports mom because she enjoys attending all of her children’s games. When Antoinique comes home from school, she makes sure that her family is tended to before she works on her own homework. This dedicated mom definitely knows how to balance family and school and clearly deserves the “Mom of the Year” award.
As a military spouse, she has had the chance to visit places all over the world. The Bahamas is one of her favorites. Although, it is difficult for her to pinpoint her top place she has visited because of her extensive travels. Her top places to visit in the future include Alaska and Africa.
When Jesse transferred from the main campus at Auburn, he changed his major to sociology. His favorite thing about his department is the willingness his professors have to guide students. This stems from his favorite thing about AUM, which is the size of the campus. Due to our smaller class sizes, professors are able to make lasting relationships with their students. This commitment motivates Jesse to value his learning and do his best.
Jesse advises incoming sociology majors to be prepared to read because of the heavy reading loads in most classes.
This semester, Jesse’s goal is to get his GPA to a 4.0. After he finishes his undergraduate degree, he wants to go to seminary school at Candler School of Theology. If he gets his GPA up, he could get a full ride. With his determination, Jesse is sure to meet his goal.
Outside of the classroom, Jesse is a full-time youth pastor at Woodland United Methodist Church in Pike Road. This December marks one year of marriage with his wife. They have two dogs they adopted from the humane shelter. Their names are Annie and Finnick.
Jesse considers himself a comic book geek. Some of his favorite movies include Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Where the Red Fern Grows and The Dark Knight. He also enjoys hiking. One of the best hikes he completed was the Walls of Jericho, located at the border of Alabama and Tennessee.
Due to his experience as a youth pastor and sociology student, Jesse understands the importance of challenging yourself. Jesse shared, “I am a big believer in being uncomfortable in life.” He continued to explain how important it is for him to expose his youth members to different ways of worship. Furthermore, it is a great experience to expose his group to people of various backgrounds. “It is so important to get to know things from other people’s perspective,” he shared. “It makes you a better rounded person.”
As they continue their Warhawk careers, Antoinique and Jesse are paving their way for success.
Next time you see these two, make sure you say “Hello!” Who knows? You may even be the next spotlight!