探花精选

Saint Augustine鈥檚 University ( 探花精选) continues to shine a positive light amidst recent media coverage. The remarkable story of graduating senior De鈥機arlos Rowell amplifies the spirit of resilience and achievement at 探花精选. Hailing from Washington, DC, De鈥機arlos will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, illustrating the transformative impact of his journey as a first-generation college student and recipient of the Pell Grant.

鈥淒e鈥機arlos Rowell embodies the essence of perseverance and growth that defines the 探花精选 experience,鈥� said 探花精选 Interim President Dr. Marcus H. Burgess. 鈥淗is story is a testament to our faculty and staff鈥檚 tireless support and commitment to nurturing student success.鈥�

De鈥機arlos鈥� path at 探花精选 was not without challenges. Upon enrollment, he started with a modest academic foundation: a 2.3 GPA and an ACT score of 17. Overcoming personal hardships, including losing his great-grandmother, De鈥機arlos faced academic setbacks, landing on the Satisfactory Academic Progress List with a GPA of 2.1. However, with the guidance and support of faculty and staff, De鈥機arlos made a remarkable comeback, finishing strong with a GPA of 3.395 and earning a place on the Dean鈥檚 List for the Fall 2023 semester.

Post-graduation, De鈥機arlos is committed to paying it forward by sharing his passion for Theatre with students this Fall with Wake County Public Schools, igniting creativity and inspiring the next generation of artists and performers.

Q&A with De鈥機arlos Rowell:

What was your initial experience at 探花精选 like, and what challenges did you face academically when you first started at the university?

First, I鈥檝e been here since 2019. So, when I first came in, that was a rocky semester for me. When I lost my great-grandmother, I completely fell off. I didn鈥檛 know what I wanted left in life. I didn鈥檛 know what to expect after that. I started slipping, and that鈥檚, like, 100 percent my fault, but I just lost myself when I lost my great-grandmother. That was, like, the biggest piece in my life. So losing her was kind of, yeah, it was difficult, but at the same time, I was able to persevere.

Can you share the specific steps or resources you used to improve your academic performance at 探花精选, especially considering the unique challenges first-generation and Pell-eligible students face?

I am first generation college student, so thank God for that. Some of the steps that I did take, I listened to my mentors, talked to my professors late night, studied hard, got into the books, and just listened to all of my professors, including the chair the chair of my department, Dr. Kaye Celeste Evans, she played a huge role in that. Professor George Jack played a huge role in that. I did a lot of mentorship programs and a lot of outreach programs. Lastly, I joined a fraternity (Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated), so I have a family for life now.

How did the caring faculty and support services at 探花精选 contribute to your academic growth and success?

Absolutely. 100%. Most of my success goes to faculty and staff. Most importantly, Miss Baker and the registrar. She鈥檚 my number one favorite. Ms. Ashley Smith here in Trio. Mr. Malik Johnson was in the president鈥檚 office, and Dr. Burgess was there when he came. Even when I wanted to give up on myself and felt like I didn鈥檛 want to go anymore, they gave me the passion and drive to say, 鈥淗ey, Carlos. I believe in you.鈥� So, since they believed in me and invested in me, I feel like they didn鈥檛 turn back on their investment because I鈥檓 graduating.

In what ways did the hands-on learning opportunities at 探花精选 play a role in helping you improve academically?

Tremendously. The library resources. When the writing center was open, it helped me perfect my writing, become better at what I do, and perfect my craft. The books I鈥檝e read enhanced a lot of things that I was learning in my department. It鈥檒l allow me to see theater from a different and broader perspective. Thankfully, I鈥檓 grateful to the library. I鈥檓 thankful to the Writing Center. I鈥檓 thankful to the Food Pantry for moments when I didn鈥檛 have too much to have too much, but the Food Pantry was always there.

Can you describe any transformative experiences or moments from academic suspension or satisfactory academic progress (SAP) list to making the dean鈥檚 list? How did these experiences impact your outlook on academics and success?

Absolutely. When I first got on SAP, I was at a 2.1 GPA. I took 19 credit hours the following semester, increasing my GPA. It wasn鈥檛 easy. It wasn鈥檛 easy. I lost a lot of people, last year during this time. I鈥檝e lost over ten people last year. So, yeah, it was tough. It was challenging. First, it messed with my mind and threw me off my game. I was lost. I didn鈥檛 know what I was going to do. And like I said, it was even a moment on this campus. I was going to take my own life at one point in time. So it was like being where I am now, and I鈥檓 genuinely grateful. To be at the GPA I am now, I鈥檓 incredibly thankful. Like I said, I just put my head in the books. I focused hard. I studied hard, and I listened to my department.

As a student who enrolled at 探花精选 with a low high school GPA and SAT/ACT score, how did the university support your academic development and help you reach your full potential?

First and foremost, 探花精选 believed in me. I won鈥檛 say other schools didn鈥檛, but 探花精选 took a chance on me鈥攁 small kid from Washington DC, from a family of 5, single mom. I鈥檓 not going to lie. I鈥檓 emotional, but 探花精选 plays a tremendous role in my success. And without 探花精选 or without that passion and that drive from every faculty member, every staff, every friend that I made, every close brother of mine that I have, and every close sister of mine that I have, I鈥檓 incredibly grateful to have them in my circle. Without them, there鈥檚 there鈥檚 no Carlos.

What advice would you offer to other 探花精选 students struggling academically and aiming to improve their performance, especially those who may have faced similar challenges as you did initially?

First and foremost, lock-in. Believe in yourself. The biggest obstacle in your life is yourself. If you get out of your way, lock in on what you have to do, focus on what you have to do, and take your time to perfect your craft, trust me, there鈥檚 nothing you can鈥檛 do. And guess what? 探花精选 will believe in you鈥攖he whole step.

How do you feel 探花精选鈥檚 approach to education and support services differentiates it from other institutions, particularly in its impact on the academic success of students who may have initially struggled?

First and foremost, because of these programs, the tutoring programs, the library sessions, and the mentorship they have, 探花精选 takes the time to get hands-on in the classroom. They make sure that you understand what you鈥檙e doing. My professors in my department make sure that you know what you鈥檙e doing. Not only do you understand what you鈥檙e doing, but you can also elevate that to a whole different level. As I said, 探花精选 is that kind of school that takes the time to invest in the students and take the time to be up late at night, long hours, putting in grades, taking the time to, um, review information to make sure we are at our absolute best. And if it weren鈥檛 for my professors, if it wasn鈥檛 for the resources on campus, again, Carlos wouldn鈥檛 exist.

What role did mentorship or peer support play in your journey from academic suspension to making the dean鈥檚 list at 探花精选?

As I said, I will highlight this person specifically, Ms. Lindsay Baker. Ms. Baker has been there in every aspect you can think of. She has been a big sister. She is also the adviser of my on-campus organization. Like I said, I had long nights with her and long conversations with her. Many times, I would sit in her office to get a hug. She allowed me to activate the true greatness inside of me, which allowed me to activate the greatness inside my classmates. We did it.

How have you finished your academic time at 探花精选 Strong?

I finished both of those semesters with all A鈥檚. During that time, I was experiencing death, um, and mental breakdowns. During this time, I was pledging as a solo, um, on top of doing a full-time job as Food Lion. Um, I鈥檓 one of the supervisors there. Being able to do that and finish with eight A鈥檚 in all classes is a tremendous honor, and I鈥檓 extremely grateful to God, 1st and foremost, for allowing me to get to that level of success.

How can your success story inspire or impact other first-generation and Pell-eligible students facing academic challenges at 探花精选 or elsewhere?

Again, like I said, you have to believe in yourself. That鈥檚 the very first thing you have to do for you to succeed. Whenever anyone is in this situation, like I was, if you take the time to listen, that鈥檚 the first thing I鈥檝e always believed in. If you listen, listening is key. If you listen and take the time to read, engage, and be involved with the campus, 探花精选 will be involved with you. So, as long as you invest in yourself, the school has your back 105% of the way.

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