Morgan (28) is transferring from Grossmont Community College in the fall, taking the next educational step after years learning in STEM fields.
Morgan, an incoming chemistry major, will join PLNU in the fall as a recipient of the Biotech Pathways Scholarship. Though this will be her first time at a four-year university, she’s no stranger to higher education.
“I have five different associates,” Morgan explained. “I couldn’t figure out how to afford to transfer, to be honest, and that’s what the scholarship is for. While I was over [at community college], I got two degrees in math, and then chemistry, bio, and physics.”
This impressive collection of STEM degrees was a newfound direction of study for Morgan. She didn’t naturally gravitate toward these subjects in high school, and discovered her love for math and science when she went out on her own for community college.
“I wasn’t the best student, math-wise, in my middle and high school years,” she said, “so a lot of my basics are self-taught. Growing up in a more unstable home environment, I wasn’t the best student. I made up for it — When you’re given the chance, or given more opportunities, I feel like you can really prove yourself in a different way. When I got control of my education, I was able to do a lot more and perform a lot better.”
Morgan found that her math associate’s was her favorite degree to obtain, largely because she found professors who supported her and encouraged her in her learning. The teacher, she said, really makes a difference in the learning process. An organic chemistry class with a dedicated professor led her to pursue a Bachelor’s in chemistry.
“I really liked o-chem [in community college],” she said. “I really had a good professor at the time, too. Professor Ines, he’s amazing, and he really made the class interesting. I did really well in that class because he was a very understanding professor with how [people have] work and stuff outside of school. He made sure that even though you had outside barriers, you didn’t miss out on the material.”
Though Morgan isn’t yet sure where her chemistry degree from PLNU might take her, she’s excited to get on campus and get started. She’s already toured with Dr. Matthew Rouffet, and will be accompanying him on a research project in the summer, made possible by the scholarship.
“When I’m over [at PLNU], it’s like they really care about seeing students through to the end, and personalizing it. It feels like a very supportive campus in general.”
“[The scholarship committee] actually reached out to me,” Morgan explained. “I applied here on a whim, to be honest. Transferring to state school was just what I assumed would happen, especially financially. I didn’t know the scholarship was a thing, but they had emailed me just saying that ‘you met the prerequisites, and would you like to do an interview?’ I Googled what the scholarship was, and I was like, ‘oh yeah, I’ll definitely do that meeting with you.’”
Being able to transfer to PLNU was another crucial step in Morgan’s educational journey that she largely had to take on her own.
“Being independent at a younger age definitely makes you take a little bit more control if you want to get farther. It’s taught me a lot — the more you do, the more you learn. It’s been challenging and scary, to be honest, because it’s a lot of paperwork and forms and things that you have to take on at a very young age, and there’s not many people who have answers for you, because it’s everybody’s first time at life, too. You have to figure out what’s right for you.”
The camaraderie she’s seen on campus so far is a draw for Morgan in the fall, alongside more personalized mentorship as she takes on this next step in her education.
“That’s the dynamic I get from the professors as well, and through being able to talk to a few of the admin too. When I’m over there, it’s like they really care about seeing students through to the end, and personalizing it. It feels like a very supportive campus in general.”
Morgan is looking forward to developing a closer relationship with the counselors at PLNU. Additionally, she’s also looking forward to focusing more exclusively on her education.
“I’ve been working full time and going to school full time for the past five years,” Morgan said. I don’t have to do that anymore, so it’s amazing! The biggest thing I’m looking forward to is really being able to be a part of campus… with working and going to school and doing everything, you kind of just say hi and bye to everybody.”
“I’ve been walking around campus, and you can jump into a conversation with anybody, and … I feel like they’re more community-based, in that everyone actually cares about getting through it together.”
