Click on Georgia's picture to view a brief video.

I am so excited for you to meet Georgia Waddups. Although she graduated last May with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, you will still see her around campus working as an Academic Coordinator with the University College Bepko Learning Center and in Dr. Leslie Ashburn Nardo’s Social Psychology Lab.  I met Georgia a few weeks ago when I learned about her new teaching position with Teach for America.  I started digging and found that not only has she achieved a very competitive job with Teach for America, but Georgia’s undergraduate experience was chocked full of rich experiences that helped her grow and prepare for this achievement.  This humble human is an excellent example of how perseverance and determination pay off.

Six years ago, Georgia took her first psychology course, Introduction to Psychology as a Social Science, with Dr. Lisa Ehrmann.  She stood out then as a woman with the courage and determination to do well in college while raising her young daughter and caring for other family members.  Not only did she excel in the class, she went on to become a mentor to hundreds of psychology students, a role in which she exhibited such skill and maturity that she became a mentor leader.  Throughout the last five years, Georgia has set high standards for herself, culminating in her graduation last year as one of the university’s top 100 students.  Dr. Ehrmann shared her thoughts:  “Georgia is able to communicate effectively with students from all walks of life.  She has the gift of parsimony in writing and speech.  She is self-effacing while self-assured, optimistic, and friendly with all.  She does not judge others; though she knows hardship, she does not fall back on it as an excuse for anything.  Her leadership skills have their origin in her ability to connect with people wherever they are.  She is consummately responsible.” 

In addition to her role as a mentor leader, Georgia was involved in psychology research, and was a teaching assistant for several psychology and University College courses. AND, she graduated with Distinction!  Dr. Ashburn Nardo had this to say about her: “Georgia’s a fascinating person because, on one hand, due to some extraordinary challenges in her life, she is mature beyond her years. She is kind and selfless, responsible and conscientious. But on the other hand, Georgia is like a little kid—excited and curious about the world, open to new experiences. This combination of qualities has made her an outstanding research assistant in my lab; I am lucky to have worked with her in this capacity for the past three semesters. She is careful and thoughtful with data collection, and she is bursting to find out the results. “

That enthusiasm is exactly what I witnessed when encountered Georgia a second time at the Department of Psychology Fall Poster Session in December – even after graduating, she’s still working as a student.  We talked more about her new job and this is what I learned.

Last fall, Georgia completed the rigorous and highly competitive application process for Teach for America... and nailed it!  Just to give you some perspective on this achievement, in 2008, Teach for America received approximately 24,700 applications for teacher positions and hired 3700 new teachers.  So why Teach for America?  Georgia says it’s all about their mission.

MJ: Briefly describe Teach for America and why you chose to apply.
GW: Teach for America is an organization that has recognized the educational inequities that exist in this country. It is very disheartening that a child’s educational opportunities are, more often than not, determined by the circumstances into which they are born. Teach for America’s mission is to close the achievement gap so that all students receive the exceptional education they deserve. To do this, they recruit recent high performing college graduates of all majors and career paths to work in schools.

Personally, I know how hard it can be to succeed when it seems that most people have already written you off and, in turn, set low or no expectations for your success. Despite this, I remember teachers in my life, including my mom who believed I could succeed and motivated me to challenge myself and never give up. I know it seems simple, but those teachers’ kind words and encouragement have played a part in every success that I have and will have in the future.

MJ: What are you most looking forward to about this two- year experience?
GW: The children I will have the opportunity to work with. I can’t wait to meet my class and the other TFA teachers and staff. I have been in contact with some of them, and they have been so welcoming and helpful. I am truly looking forward to joining their team in person.

MJ: How do you believe your Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology will help you in this new job?
GW: One of the greatest skills I acquired has been the awareness of myself and those around me. The knowledge I have gained from classes such as Theories of Personality and Social Psychology among others have definitely shaped this awareness. My ability to communicate and work with groups of people has definitely been enhanced by my degree. Another area that I feel my psychology degree will help me in this job is my ability to be a better consumer of information. In this job, I need to be able to carefully read and understanding research articles as well as assess student performance and needs. I would not feel confident in doing this if it were not for classes like Statistics and Research Methods among others. I could go on and on, but in summary it is hard for me to think of a way my psychology degree won’t help me in my new job. I feel that I received an exceptionally well-rounded education as an undergraduate in psychology and I am truly grateful.

MJ: What advice do you have for current psychology undergraduates, especially those who might be struggling to find their way?
GW: To start, don’t put off taking the following classes: B103, B305, and B311. Each of these classes for many reasons will help you be successful in other psychology classes. Take them as soon as you are eligible and make sure that you are able to devote the time to these classes that they deserve.

Participating in and doing research has also been one of the most beneficial experiences I have had as a student. Since I began learning about psychology, I was interested in social psychology. I was very fortunate to learn of Dr. Ashburn-Nardo’s social psychology lab while taking her B311 research methods course. As a member of this lab, I have been able to take part in the process of collecting data, analyzing data, and reporting the results. I have even been able to actually present research that I have worked on. This experience has not only helped my research skills grow extensively, it has also made me more socially aware.

I also suggest you take a variety of classes both inside and outside of the Psychology Department and to get to know your instructors. If you are interested in Behavioral Neuroscience take that course, but also take classes like Social Psychology and Theories of Personality (just to name a few). The Psychology Department has so many outstanding instructors that I have been fortunate enough to meet, and I have learned so much from these experiences. Don’t miss this opportunity. I also found interest in a many of the classes offered by the Sociology Department (Sociology of Death and Dying, Social Problems, etc.). It is great when you can take courses that are of interest to you and that compliment your major. Exploring different courses will really give you a well-rounded undergraduate experience. 

My advice for students who do not have it all figured out yet is this:  I was the type of undergraduate student who did not know what I wanted to be when I grew up. Not because I was confused or did not know my options, but because I enjoyed so much it was hard for me to make a commitment to just one area. To tell you the truth, I am still not 100% sure of what I want to do for the rest of my life. What I have learned is that no matter what, we should all do something that we are passionate about. I have always felt strongly about educational inequity, and now I will actually be doing something about it. Try to make a difference in this world for the better, however you can.

Now...imagine what YOU can do.