story and photos by Claire Miller
On his first college exam, Lamonta Parker remembers getting one of the highest grades in his class.
At the time, he was a student at Washington Early College High School and taking classes at Georgia State University as part of the Alonzo A. Crim Center for Urban Educational Excellence’s Early College program, which brings high school students to campus to earn college credit and prepare for their own college careers. Now, he’s studying education and psychology as an interdisciplinary studies undergraduate student at Georgia State.
Keep reading to learn more about his career plans and how the Early College student can stay motivated to achieve their goals.
Q: What was the best moment/experience you had as part of the Early College program? How do you think Early College prepared you for college?
A: When I got one of the highest test grades among my friends and other college students on my first college exam, it showed me that the most difficult part of college isn’t the content itself, but rather the way in which you apply it.
I learned that what brings me the most joy in life is seeing the expression on someone’s face when they learned something they did not previously know and are genuinely happy and excited to know this new bit of information.
Q: What made you decide to enroll at Georgia State University, and in the College of Education & Human Development in particular? What have you enjoyed most about being a student in our college?
A: The most exciting part about being a student in College of Education & Human Development is my classes and how they’ve related to my own life – specifically, the class on the science of learning. That class allowed me to step back and take a look at my role in my learning and how much of an impact my mindset really plays in my ultimate success or failure.
Q: What do you hope to do once you graduate?
A: I hope to enroll in a master’s program and eventually a doctoral program to pursue my goal of being either a college professor or a counselor/psychologist. The paths I choose would allow me to spread knowledge through conversation, which for me has always been the best method to do so.
Q: What advice do you have for high school students considering the Early College program? What advice would you give to those students who want to enroll at Georgia State?
A: The advice I would give to perspective Early College and Georgia State students is to know yourself and what drives you. I have learned that for me, motivation – or the lack of motivation – can heavily impact the effort you put in and the results of anything you pursue.