Never underestimate the gifts you give. That’s the lesson you can learn from Trenton Buckner, a graduate of Northside High in Columbus, Ga., and a Georgia State University Presidential Scholar.
“When I was about 8 years old, my mother gave me a toy model of the human brain,” Buckner said. “She’s a nurse, so I guess she thought it’d be something fun and different. I remember playing with that model for hours, wondering how the human brain worked.”
In high school, Buckner became involved in his HOSA – Future Health Professionals chapter, learning about service, leadership and possible career paths while competing against other students from across the state.
“Competing statewide in pathophysiology and placing in the top 10 was a real confidence booster,” Buckner said.
Attending Georgia State was a natural next step for him, since his older brother Quinton got his undergraduate degree in exercise science and his doctorate in physical therapy from Georgia State.
“My brother has been such a role model for me,” Buckner said. “His dedication to service and hard work remind me every day that I can challenge myself and grow more than I realize.”
Buckner credits the incredible research opportunities available at Georgia State with inspiring him to enroll in the Honors College. As a neuroscience major, Buckner sees human behavior as a form of storytelling with the brain being the author. Neuroscience is a way to understand how the brain works so that disease and injury can be better treated.
“I see myself pursuing a medical degree, but I’m realistic that Georgia State has so many opportunities that I need to keep an open mind,” Buckner said. “A research pathway may open up and I may find that neuroscience helped me find what I really want to do. I’m just hoping to contribute meaningful change to a school that has so many innovative minds working to solve real-world problems.”
To learn more about the Presidential Scholarship, Georgia State’s most prestigious and valuable academic award, visit honors.gsu.edu/the-presidential-scholarship.
Story by Boyd Baker, photo by Meg Buscema