Student Scholar: January 31

Rachel Decker
The Paw Print

Briana Roybal, a senior on the fast track to graduation, has spent many years working hard to achieve her dreams. School has not always been easy, but with the effort and dedication Roybal has put towards her degree, it is no wonder that she is Adams State’s Student Scholar of the Week.

Roybal is double majoring in Anthropology and English Liberal Arts. She has always enjoyed writing, and is currently working at the Writing Studio, as well as computing services. Here at Adams, Roybal is involved in several things and likes to take time to meet new people and spend time with friends. This semester she will be involved in Student Scholar Days, presenting a paper that she spent a lot of time and effort creating. Her nominating professor, Dr. David MacWilliams, had nothing but praise for the hard-working senior.

“Besides being an excellent student, she spends much of her time giving back to the community,” MacWilliams said. “She judges contests held by the local library, as well as writing contests for local high school students. She’s also a terrific tutor in the ASU Writing Studio. She’s not just very, very smart, but she’s also generous.”

After graduation, Roybal is determined to be a professor. She loves giving her time to help students aspiring to further their education, and she feels she would be a good professor to assist students with their goals and dreams.

“I used to want to be a full-time author, but as I grew up, I realized I didn’t have the patience for writing only,” Roybal explains. “It would be cool to blend the two- write books on the side while I spend time connecting with students the way my professors connected with me.”

Roybal says that much of her success was thanks to all her professors being such great help to her along her educational journey. She explains that, at first, she was hesitant to be open and confident with her professors, but she is glad that she made that leap.

“I was scared that I would come off as immature or stupid, and that my professors wouldn’t be open to talking and getting on a one to one basis,” says Roybal. “As I branched out, though, I saw that my professors were kind and fun, and once I got to know them, class was much easier. It also helped knowing them when studying for tests came around, and it made anxiety lessen.”

Another tip that Roybal offers is that it is okay to change your major. She confesses that, at first, she moved around a lot. Though it seems bad to continuously switch majors, it is the best way to find out what fits you best.

“When I think back on it,” Roybal says, “I was disappointed with myself for switching my majors. I felt like I hadn’t given it my all, and that I hadn’t put enough effort into trying to make my major work. I was originally a Chemistry major, and I was all about math and science. After that, I did some “major-hopping”, and I actually started to “collect” majors. That’s how I ended up with my minor in Government.”

A lot of times, students feel the need to declare their major right away. Even if they are not satisfied with that they choose, many negative connotations are included with switching majors, so students force themselves to do something they do not enjoy.

“Changing majors so much seemed bad, but in the end it was what really helped me. I found the perfect fit. It’s what you want to do with your life, so you shouldn’t be forced to choose it indefinitely right away.”

 

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