Cece Austin is a fourth year student in the Honors College majoring in Psychology and Social Science, and a Resident Assistant in Stephen Epler Hall. Cece has found an academic home in the Honors College even though their previous academic journey was not easy. Academic difficulty in high school demoralized Cece. They only applied to the Honors College out of a desire to practice writing through the application’s essay prompts, but they did not think they would get into the program. They were surprised when they were accepted and experienced some imposter syndrome at first. However, the structure, assistance, and format of the Honors College helped Cece with the skills and support they needed, providing a sense of belonging and community.
Cece found the Honors seminars to be foundational to their experience in Honors, both because of the faculty’s approach to teaching and because the seminars showcased a wide range of disciplines. Cece names Dr. Shirley Jackson, Dr. Paul McCutcheon, and Dr. Tyler Cornelius as pivotal influences on their development as a student; these professors impacted Cece on both an academic and personal level. As Cece observes, “Getting an education is important, but who is doing the educating is just as important.” Brianna Avery’s stalwart support and guidance as an academic advisor was also highlighted by Cece, which this writer is happy to reinforce.
Getting an education is important, but who is doing the educating is just as important.
Cece faces unique challenges as a person with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare connective tissue disorder that is often overlooked in the medical community. While they have been able to connect with the Disability Resource Centre and gain accommodations, they have also faced stigmas, both internally and externally. As Cece related, “I was using a walker for a while, and while being in the unique position of only needing it temporarily, I was able to see the differences in how people treated me while I was using it and after I stopped. Changes in behavior, how people treated me, and stuff like that were very different. It was also hard to ask for the accommodations, even though I genuinely needed it… it just felt very awkward somehow. The Honors College has been understanding, though, and that’s been good.”
Cece is working on a thesis about disability and sense of belonging in college, a relevant subject area for many students. Their other activities include being an RA and acting as the Vice President of the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Association, one of the largest Student Activity and Leadership Program student organizations. As a member of the officer cohort, they went to Chicago for the Society for Neuroscience conference, engaging in outreach efforts in the Midwest region through the conference and working with Chicago Public Schools for a day as part of NWNoggin, a neuroscience nonprofit.
As an RA, Cece is very attuned and glad to accommodate the needs of the residents on their floor. They particularly enjoy connecting with transfer students who often face culture shock in their transition from community college or from out of state. Through their position as an RA, Cece is able to relate their experience with the Honors College, outline what the program has to offer, and provide recommendations for food, events, and community building in addition to academic resources.
Cece is doing an extra year at PSU in order to consolidate resources and prepare more thoroughly for grad school. Cece’s experiences in the Honors College have helped them grow, but they don’t see a concern with taking their time if it means a calmer path to succeed. As they note, “Ultimately, I’d rather take my time and enjoy being a student for a while longer before going into the real world.”