Dawn Saunders is a Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) student from Minnesota who now lives in Danville, Va., to be closer to her husband’s family. Saunders is expected to graduate in May of 2022.
What is an average day like for you in the GPS Program?
“My average day is busy! I have four children so we are at school by 8 a.m. I also work part-time at their school. When I first get to work, I look at my class assignments and any emails I may have gotten. I tend to work about an hour doing class work. I have a great benefit working part-time at my job because I have the ability to do my school work there.
The next part of my day is work after the kids get out of school I then become mom and take them to their sports or work on their homework or run errands. If I don’t have any of that to do, I will try to get some of my class work done. Once we all are home, it is dinner and clean-up time. Hopefully by 9 p.m. the kids are settled and I can work on my classwork for a few more hours. Every day is different for me, depending on what is happening with the family. There are times I have one hour to work, or many hours to work on classwork. One thing I do is try to make some time every day to do some portion of my work. This keeps it in my mind, thinking on it and processing some question or assignment.”
Why did you decide to continue your education at Averett?
“Averett is the hometown University. My mom-in-law graduated from Averett in 1968 and my father-in-law is very active with Averett. I also know people who work there and I have easy access to the campus if I need help.”
How do you believe Averett will help you with your degree?
“The ability to do my classes online and one at a time makes it easier for me. I then can concentrate on one class at a time. The way the program is set up, I believe I am set up for success. There are many people there to help me along the way.”
What do you like best about the University?
“What I like best are the people of Averett because they are friendly and helpful. They have answers for me or if they don’t, they know someone who does.”
5. Why did you choose your path of study?
“Ichose sociology/criminal justice because the credits I had previously transferred in and it gave me a program of study that I could complete in roughly two years. My ultimate plan is to teach, hopefully at my kids’ school.”
