Class of 2025 graduates offer this advice to incoming freshmen

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Three Mercer students jump in the air on a football field in front of a scoreboard.
Photo by Leah Yetter

Welcome to the Mercer University family, Class of 2029! As you prepare to embark on your journey as a Bear, check out these words of wisdom from some of our most recent graduates to help you make the most of your college career. Here, they answer the question: What advice do you have for incoming students?

Anna Hale
Anna Hale

“Comparison is the thief of joy. Everyone in college is on their own journey, so focus on yours! Do the things that interest and excite you.” 

Anna Hale, Bachelor of Arts, political science


James Stephens
James Stephens

“Trust the process, choose your passion, make mistakes, learn and keep moving forward. Be vulnerable, so your professors can see your weaknesses because that is where the real growth begins. Own your journey, embrace accountability, grow with purpose, let your story inspire others. Become the Bear.” 

James Stephens, Bachelor of Business Administration, human resource management 


Cameron White
Cameron White

“Embrace everything that Mercer has to offer with an open mind. This campus will change you for the better if you give it the opportunity!”

Cameron White, Bachelor of Arts, global health studies


Imani Choukair
Imani Choukair

“Be intentional with everything you do, whether it’s building friendships, choosing your classes or thinking about your future. Every decision shapes who you are, even if you don’t realize it at the time. Also, remember to be patient with yourself, none of us have it all figured out, and that’s OK.”

Imani Choukair, Bachelor of Science, industrial management


Dalton Loyd
Dalton Loyd

“Don’t let the bad days define your college experience! College comes with lots of highs and lows, and, unfortunately, bad days will happen. However, find the small things that bring you joy in those rough times, whether that be a friend, classmate, a piece of fried chicken from the caf, or a nice scenic spot on campus!” 

Dalton Loyd, Bachelor of Science, biology; Bachelor of Arts, religion


Linda Phan
Linda Phan

“Get outside your comfort zone and branch out. It’s important to make new connections and relationships while in college as these people will help you grow as an individual.”

Linda Phan, Bachelor of Science, psychology 


Tamia Sammons
Tamia Sammons

“One of the most important things you can learn is how to manage your time and prioritize what really matters. Balancing classes, work and life isn’t easy, but it’s possible. Start by getting organized early. Use a planner, set reminders and break big tasks into smaller ones. Most importantly, learn to say no when you need to.” 

Tamia Sammons, Bachelor of Science, organizational leadership 

 

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Jennifer Falk
Jennifer Falk is director of digital communications at Mercer. She edits and writes feature stories for The Den and examines web data and analytics to drive content decisions. She also creates and supervises the creation of content for primary University web pages and e-newsletters.