Nicholas Milsap is graduating from Mercer University’s College of Education with a Bachelor of Science in Education in secondary education, math.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’m excited to announce that I will be pursuing my Master of Education in higher education leadership at Mercer University this upcoming fall! On top of that, I’ll be working as the graduate assistant for leadership development with the Office of Campus Life and Student Involvement.
Who was your favorite professor and why?
My favorite professor, without a doubt, was Dr. Susie Morrissey. From our very first email exchange, she has had my back in every single facet of my collegiate journey. There honestly aren’t enough words in the dictionary to fully describe how incredible she is, but I’ll try anyway. She revised my academic plan at least 20 times — no complaints — because I needed the perfect schedule. She even went as far as creating a class for all her math seniors just so we could get the credit we needed and graduate on time. That’s the kind of professor she is — she doesn’t just teach, she shows up for her students in ways that change their lives.
What is one of your favorite Mercer memories?
My favorite memory at Mercer University is actually pretty simple — but it means everything to me. It’s the day I read my acceptance letter. I was 18 years old, driving a truck full of my teammates home after practice, probably thinking about anything but my future in that moment. And then I read it — I got in. Just like that. But what made that moment so special wasn’t just the letter, it was what it represented. Because that same moment connected me back to a much smaller version of myself — an 8-year-old kid sitting at a Mercer basketball game with his grandfather. After the game, I looked at him and said, “This is where I want to go to school when I grow up, Grandaddy.” And years later, there I was reading the letter that said I actually did it. So yeah, out of all the memories, that one will always be my favorite because it’s the moment a childhood dream stopped being a dream and became my reality.
What was your favorite class and why?
My favorite class was general chemistry I (CHEM 111) with Dr. Caryn Seney. I took it with one of my best friends, so that already made it memorable but the class itself? There truly isn’t a course better in all the land, than one taught by Dr. Caryn Seney. That’s where I learned how to do titrations, balance equations and track down those sneaky electrons. Dr. Seney is one of the most prepared professors you will ever meet. She had resources for EVERYTHING — question help, how-to videos, you name it. But what really stuck with me was the day she stopped class in the middle of a lesson just to remind us that we mattered. She had us say it to ourselves and to each other. That’s something I’ll never forget.
How do you plan on changing the world?
I plan on becoming a full-time educator — Dr. Milsap, if we’re speaking it into existence — teaching grades P-12 while also stepping into collegiate-level teaching. I want to work with as many young minds as I can, helping students become the most authentic and free versions of themselves. I want to create a classroom where students feel safe to grow, to dream and to just be kids — protecting that sense of childlike wonder for as long as possible while still preparing them for the real world.
What advice do you have for incoming students?
Take more photos. Seriously. Capture the nights that won’t exist again so you can look back and relive them. Use this time to figure out who you are — what you like, what you don’t like — without someone telling you who you’re supposed to be. And please, take a random elective in something you’ve always been curious about. You never know, it might just change your life.
How did Mercer prepare you for your future?
Mercer University gave me the structure and opportunities to do things I never thought were possible. It opened doors to people, jobs and experiences I wouldn’t have had otherwise. From Bearstock memories with friends to those 2 a.m. residence life calls about locked doors, every moment taught me something. My student teaching experience taught me patience for every future student I’ll encounter. And one presentation about a summer camp job? That completely changed my faith journey and connected me with people all across the country.
Would you like to be featured in The Den’s Graduate Spotlight? All you have to do is fill out this form and submit your photo. Your response also may be used on social media.
