Getting direction: Stories from today’s college student

“College gave me direction. I also am learning that it’s not enough just to be smart. You have to apply yourself.”

Like her friend Chris Shelton, Amanda Alexander was an avowed “floater” through high school and two years of college (Tyler Junior College, and the University of Houston). She now attends San Jacinto College and has discovered a new career path.

“My GPA when I started at San Jac was 1.5, and now it is up to 3.5,” commented Alexander, who will earn a degree in communications at SJC in May and then transfer to Texas State University.

Alexander is a gifted percussionist (“xylophone, drums, anything you can beat on”) and began at SJC on a music scholarship with plans to pursue music as a career. Her career path changed directions when she signed up for an elective speech and debate course and decided to join the College’s highly regarded debate team. She discovered she had a natural knack for public speaking and quickly began to excel at persuasive speech and debate. Alexander now serves as the captain of the College’s debate team and plans to pursue a political science degree at Texas State with an ultimate goal of being a lobbyist.

“Music will always be a part of my life, but I feel good about pursuing political science because I really believe I can make more of a positive difference in life,” she remarked. “This College has literally been a life-changer for me. I have found a new direction. I am not a floater any more. I know what I want to do now and I am excited about it.”