See Yourself at GSU is a special Honors College series that uses real student stories to understand common student experiences — for example, applying to Georgia State as an international student.
By Heather Fields
ATLANTA—For KeyShawn Phillips (B.S. '22, M.A. '24), working as an Honors College admissions counselor at GSU is a “full circle moment.” As an undergrad, Phillips was a student in the Honors College. After earning his bachelor’s, Phillips returned to the Honors College as an Academic Admissions Counselor.
“I love [working in the Honors College] so much,” said Phillips. “I get to see the students coming into the Honors College after me become successful and get these really cool opportunities.”
While working full time, Phillips pursued a master’s degree in the Urban Studies Institute and graduated in December 2024.
So Much to Do and So Little Time
It’s no secret that earning a master’s degree while maintaining a full- time job takes time, energy and effort. Phillips’s approach involved adjusting priorities and maintaining open communication.
"If I had a big project due for class, I’d focus on that and inform my manager,” said Phillips. “If I had work travel, I’d alert my professors in advance, and we would come up with ways to adjust assignments or due dates.”
Making time for what he loves most, including traveling, helped Phillips make it to the finish line. More important, Phillips learned, was giving himself grace.
“If I did receive a grade lower than I expected, I could be satisfied knowing that I tried my hardest and that I could talk to my professor or peers,” said Phillips.
Tips for Maintaining Your Professional and Personal Balance
- Have something to look forward to. Having a fun activity planned and making time for hobbies can help fight off burnout.
- Identify unhealthy coping mechanisms, including the most notorious one: procrastination. Putting off your projects may let you avoid the anxiety for now, but the consequences can become even more stressful!
- Carve out time for breaks. Just like our bodies, our brains need breaks throughout the day. Take some quiet time (without doomscrolling!) to listen to a beloved song or practice meditation.
- Find something to love about what you do. Feeling bogged down with a rigorous project or with high-level classes in your major? Remember what drove you to choose it in the first place. Bring your passion to your work.
- Maintain a strong social network. Make connecting with family and friends part of your priority list.
- And remember, GSU is here to help you. If you are struggling to balance your priorities, speak to your professor, your adviser or reach out to the Counseling Center.
Numbers and New Interests
While earning his bachelor’s in mathematics, Phillips began to notice the active political landscape around him. Inspired in 2020 by the Black Lives Matter protests in Atlanta, the passion of his peers and the community of Atlanta, Phillips developed an interest in data related to public policy. A sophomore-year internship with U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams introduced Phillips to government work. While mostly virtual, Phillips traveled to Washington, D.C., where he explored urban planning firsthand via the metro system.
Throughout his undergraduate career, Phillips found himself increasingly drawn to learning more about public transit, and he began to become interested in the benefits of urban planning focused on people (rather than cars). Phillips pursued a Master of Interdisciplinary Studies in the Urban Studies department while continuing to work full time at the Honors College.
Passions and Plans
The Honors College staff celebrating KeyShawn Phillips and the impact he has made on its students.
During his final semester, Phillips received the Andrew J. Swope scholarship for Equity and Justice, which funded a trip to Boston to study the city’s transit system. He included his findings in his capstone paper, which included comparisons between Boston and Atlanta’s transit systems.
“I think the United States has a negative opinion of public transit,” said Phillips. “In reality, that’s how a lot of developed cities throughout the world move people.”
Phillips hopes to “dispel the negative myths surrounding public transportation” during his career. He wants to work in public transportation development for now, but he also sees himself going into public policy and eventually becoming a professor.
Phillips will begin the next step in his career in North Carolina with an internship working on public transportation and urban planning. The Honors College community is grateful for Phillip’s contributions as an Honors student, an admissions team member and as a familiar face for students.
The Honors College at Georgia State University is a destination for high-achieving students who embody curiosity, take pride in their work and dream about how they can make an impact through their studies and careers. Its mission is to serve students in a welcoming space by engaging students’ curiosity, empowering them to achieve their highest potential and inspiring them to find their place in the world. Its students form life-long friendships, participate in community service, perform research, excel academically, explore their interests and chart their career paths.