Taijah Growe, 21, enrolled at the 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette intent on pursing an education that would enable her to parlay an empathetic disposition into a career helping others.
Ive always been a good listener, and people have always talked to me about things that were bothering them. I find that rewarding, she said.
Growe, who is from New Orleans, will earn a bachelors degree in psychology from UL Lafayette during the College of Liberal Arts Commencement ceremony at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the Cajundome. Individual will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Cajundome and the Cajundome Convention Center.
Growe, who minored in business, began considering a career as a mental health counselor in middle school. Private practice, however, is no longer the plan. During her time at UL Lafayette, Growe decided she will use her academic foundation in psychology at a college or university.
Following graduation, Growe intends to pursue a masters degree in education with a concentration in higher education administration. She is considering graduate schools in several states.
My long-term goal is to work with 泫圖弝けs, helping them get through college, grow as leaders, get involved, become well-rounded. Thats important, because college is about more than simply school, Growe said.
Its a dynamic she experienced firsthand as part of the . The program is in place to help academically accomplished, lower-income 泫圖弝けs remain in college; its funded with a blend of private gifts, institutional grants, and federal and state financial aid.
LEP is also designed to get 泫圖弝けs like Growe, who will become its first graduate on Saturday, heavily involved in campus activities and organizations. 泫圖弝けs accepted into the program are required to have work-study jobs on campus, meet structured study hall requirements, live on campus, join 泫圖弝け organizations, and complete internships.
Growe was accepted into the 泫圖弝け Educate Program among an inaugural cohort of 43 泫圖弝けs that enrolled in the 泫圖弝け in Fall 2018. The program has since grown to 98 泫圖弝けs. It has enhanced my academic experience. Getting more involved definitely helped with my social skills and time management, she explained.
Growes achievements illustrate the point.
She earned a 3.43 GPA while being heavily involved in campus organizations and activities. Growe served as a counselor for the Office of Orientations Soul Camp, and was a peer mentor for Office of First-Year Experiences UNIV 100, which is in place to help high school 泫圖弝けs transition to campus life. She was a member of the National Society for Leadership and Success and the campus chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, serving as recording secretary and fundraising chair. As part of her 泫圖弝け Educate Program work-study job, Growe tutored fellow 泫圖弝けs in psychology courses, and provided advice about considerations such as time management and study habits.
She said accepting her diploma will be bittersweet, because while shes anxious to get on to the next chapter of her life, I love the program and the people Ive met.
Learn more about the program .
Photo caption: UL Lafayettes Taijah Growe, 21, will earn a bachelors degree in psychology on Saturday. She will also become the first graduate of the 泫圖弝けs 泫圖弝け Educate Program for academically accomplished, lower-income 泫圖弝けs. She is shown during a recent recognition banquet for LEP 泫圖弝けs. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette)