| Margret
Chang
Greetings! My name is Margret Chang, a successful member of the
class of 2003.
My story at West Georgia began at the age of sixteen, when I was
accepted as a student at the Advanced Academy--a program initiated
by the Honors College that allows gifted high school juniors and
seniors the chance to get a head start in college. Challenging coursework
and intelligent companions were part of my experience from the very
first day, and I was given the flexibility to take on a full-course
liberal arts curriculum while completing my requirements for medical
school. In
addition, dedicated faculty members were always willing to take
me under their wings, allowing me to obtain a deeper level of understanding
in a variety of disciplines ranging from developmental psychology
to the history of public health.
Under the mentorship of my professors, who cared more about helping
students succeed than publishing their own research, my creativity
and intelligence took off. For the first time in my educational
career, I was allowed to think my own thoughts and make interdisciplinary
connections where I saw fit. My days were spent having fun intellectual
conversations with faculty members from elite schools such as Princeton
and Northwestern Universities , and as a result, most of my undergraduate
education was carried out at a graduate level.
Just how much I had grown--intellectually and personally--from being
in this stimulating environment can be seen in my accomplishments
as an English major. Indeed, the English department at West Georgia
is extremely strong, comprising of a diverse body of faculty members
who specialize in all types of literature and in creative writing.
Turning students into critical readers and writers was the mission
uniting them, and together, they helped me weave my ideas regarding
literature and
medicine together into papers that I've been able to present at
several state and national conferences. These conferences made me
not only into a more confident presenter, but also into a nationally
recognized student. In 2002, I was presented a National English
Award by Sigma Tau Delta, an English honor society, for being the
most outstanding junior English major in the country--an accomplishment
that speaks to the quality of the training I received as much as
it does to anything I
achieved on my own.
Yet, the amazing thing about West Georgia is that I was able to
pursue a slew of extracurricular activities even amidst all of my
academic achievements. During my undergraduate years, I was active
in a range of campus activities and held leadership offices in organizations
such as the Honors Council, the English honors society, and the
campus pre-medical society. My experience as a violinist and pianist
also came in handy, and I soon found myself involved in everything
from faculty
chamber music recitals to being the sound effects person for a campus
improvisational comedy troupe. In addition, I was even allowed to
stage two successful benefit concerts for local charities--a feat
that would have never taken place had it not been for the support
of the Honors College.
What all of my academic and extracurricular achievements illustrate
is the advantage of attending a small college with an accomplished,
highly committed group of professors. Indeed, it should come as
no surprise that West Georgia 's motto is "educational excellence
in a personal environment"--a rhetorical device that quickly
becomes reality within the small, discussion-based seminars at the
foundation of all Honors classes. This environment, coupled with
my background as an English major, has opened up a world of career
possibilities for me. Though I still plan to head to medical school
in Fall 2005 (hopefully at Yale University ), I have decided to
investigate these possibilities by participating in a series of
internships over the next two years. Currently, I am a science writing
intern at a major national laboratory--a highly competitive position
that is typically offered only to journalism students. Other internship
plans for the coming year include the possibility of my serving
as a medical editor and epidemiology intern for the AIDS research
division at the Centers of Disease Control in Atlanta , Georgia.
Again, that I am even considering such ambitious opportunities is
a direct reflection of how my undergraduate training has shaped
me into an excellent communicator and innovative thinker.I can honestly
say that the Honors College 's unique educational environment offers
intellectual and personal opportunities that would simply not be
possible at a larger
university.
Best wishes,
Margret Chang
Margret Chang, staff writer
Communications and Public Affairs
Argonne National Laboratory
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