Hannah Foster taking senior pictures at the Cumberlands Falls State Park
 on March 5th 2017.
Photo by: Olla Drane

Hannah Foster: UC Senior

At the University of the Cumberlands it is no secret that there are many students who have bright futures ahead of them. I sat down with Hannah Foster, a senior who is one of those bright students. She is the recipient of the “Who is Who” award, the current president of the club Bigs and Littles and a spiritual leader for the club Baptist Campus Ministries. Foster claims the state of Florida her home and is anxiously awaiting the day of graduation. The day of May 6, 2017 Foster will be proudly accepting a diploma of completion of a BA in Psychology and a BA in Human services. She scheduled time out of her busy life to reveal the opportunities she had at UC and also to offer up some advice for the rising Juniors.

Heather Greene: When I say immediate family, who all comes to mind?

Hannah Foster: Mom, Dad and two brothers who are back in Florida. My two brothers are Benjamin who is 17 and John Michael who is 15. My Mom is a stay at home mom who helps my Dad at the church; my Dad is a pastor. They also help church members who are in the hospital and nursing homes; or participate in any other visits that are needed. They also do the stuff in the community that needs to be done by the church. It’s a very big job but that is the blanket statement of their day to day life.

HG: What is one activity you enjoy doing that others may not?

HF: I actually enjoy musicals on a visual and physical level. What I mean by a physical levels is, I become so obsessed by with the songs that I try singing and learning each one. "LaLa Land" is my current musical obsession. 

HG: What factors led to your decision in choosing the University of the Cumberlands to receive your degree?

HF: I honestly did not plan to come to UC. I was accepted and excited to attend Carson-Newman College; which is now a University. I actually received more scholarships from UC and that ended up being the determining factor. God really opened the doors to UC, even though my grandparents were located closer to Carson-Newman College.

HG: What degree were you originally interested, or has it remained the same?

HF: Since my Freshman year in high school, I’ve known that I wanted to be a Psychology Major. I felt the Lord was calling me into counseling. As a ninth grader, I wanted to own and work as a counselor in a pregnancy crisis facility. As I have gone through college classes, I realized I want to be a school counselor, or work in a family resource office. Although I have it down to two options, I am still undecided. But that doesn’t change that I will graduate with my BA in Psychology and a BA in Human Services this May.

HG: What do you appreciate the most about The University of the Cumberlands?

HF: I appreciate how well the professors work with you. The professors I’ve had really cared about your understanding on what they are teaching. If you have questions, they are more than happy to answer them. This University is small enough that you can truly talk to your professors and they actually care.

HG: What are your responsibilities in your internship?      

HF: My job varies from day to day, but I primarily work at the Corbin Preschool Center with Karen West. She writes the grants for the Corbin school system; which I help with sometimes. I work directly with her for most of my internship, but sometimes she sends me to the elementary school and/ or high school. Just recently, I went to the high school to shadow a Family Resource Coordinator. I do what Mrs. Karen West ask of me, because she wants me to have a variety of experiences.

HG: What resources did you use to receive your internship with Karen West?

HF: During the senior advising you meet your department chair, or both department chairs if a double major, and they may have ideas for you (like mine did) or you have to research for yourself. I counted on my department chair to give me valid information on what “I” would be best in. She, my human resource department chair, made me aware of this opportunity, because she believed it would fit me with what I wanted to do.

HG: What encouraged you to accept an additional job at the day care; on top of your internship responsibilities this semester?

HF: I accepted this position because I wanted to start helping my family out. Since I received this job I have not had to ask my parents for money when I wanted to something or needed to go somewhere.

HG: What club(s) have you been active in?

HF: I have participated in C.A.B., which is Campus Activities Board, Bigs and Littles, and B.C.M., which is Baptist Campus Ministries. Actually Bigs and Littles is a branch of B.C.M.; it’s a part of the women’s ministry.

HG: Did you strategize your senior year, so that you would have time for extras like clubs purposefully?

HF: I had to think about it, because it was a lot to process. It is definitely a God thing that I have made it this far without failing something, dropping out, or quitting something because it has been absolutely insane these past two semesters of my senior year. This semester I am doing an internship, which is 18 hours a week; I am working a job at the preschool, which is nine hours a week, and working the library, which is 10 hours a week. Then there is all my responsibilities with BCM and Bigs and Littles. Every week day and night, I have scheduled responsibilities. I really enjoy watching Netflix; I do not have time for that.

HG: What year did you first gain interest in Clubs on campus?

HF: It was more second semester freshman year; but I didn’t really get involved until my sophomore year. I had a friend who was involved in C.A.B. so as a freshman I started participating in C.A.B. Then sophomore year, I began to get involved with “Bigs and Littles” which is this new ministry that happened on campus. Then I found myself involved in both, C.A.B. and Bigs and Littles.

HG: What club did you enjoy the most?

Whitney Johnson (left) and Hannah Foster (right) lead opening prayer for Bigs and Littles 
counsel meeting in 2016.
Photo by: Jasmine Mink

HF: I enjoyed C.A.B. when I was a part of it; the people were really nice. The Spotlight event was really fun. But I have a heart for women on this campus, so it’s been really awesome working with Bigs and Littles. It has been a blessing seeing what an impact it has made on these girls’ lives. Some of these girls were hurting and through Bigs and Littles they found friends. Even girls who would never have spoken to each other due to opposite majors are talking to each other like BFF’s because of this common ground of Bigs and Littles. It has been really cool seeing them enjoy each other. It is amazing to see girls post prayer requests on the message board. They will even come up to you in a meeting and say I really need you to pray for me. I do enjoy this club, but I am also kind of bias because I was there to see it get started and now I am presiding over it.

HG: Have you enjoyed being the President of Bigs and Littles this semester?

HF: I have enjoyed it, but because it is such a new organization, we are still trying to figure out all the kinks; and that is stressful. Even with the awesome counsel I have, it is still hard to match schedules. If it were not for the current counsel, I would not be president. I would probably quit because of all the stress. We are lacking that permanency that everyone else on this campus has because we are still so new and still figuring out everything.

HG: What do you enjoy the most about Baptist Campus Ministries?

HF: I really enjoy how Chad, our campus minister, really invests in all of the members of the leadership team; and in their lives. Every Monday we come together as a team and he trains us in discipleship training, which is what we train our life groups in next Thursday. Any time any of us has a prayer request, worries, or problems we know we can go talk to him. He is always up for praying with you and open for praying for you. This leadership element, who is so involved, is something that BCM was missing for a while.

HG: When reflecting back on your time at UC, what transformation do you see in yourself?

HF: I would say that coming in as a college freshman, I was very unsure and I did not know who I was. I did not think I was smart enough to finish. Looking back, and knowing I am going to have a BA in Psychology and Human Services; I AM smart enough. It has really helped me to realize that I have made it this far. My confidence level has increased tremendously since coming to college. I feel like I am more intuitive and I think a lot more in depth about things. I have learned a lot of life lessons, not just education, but also resolution conflict. I have learned how to help someone who has lost a family member and how to be there for him or her through that hard time. I also learned how to speak to your professors in a respectful manner, even when you do not agree. Looking back on Hannah as a freshman and seeing Hannah as a senior it is a huge difference, a completely different person.

HG: What was most difficult about your senior year?

HF: Stress. Scheduling. Balancing all responsibilities. Comparatively, my classes this semester are not hard when thinking back on last semester. Last semester I had senior seminar and Psychology which required a 20-page paper. So last semester difficulty was classes and this semester difficulty is the stress of getting everything else done.

HG: What has been most rewarding this semester?

HF: I received “Who is Who” among college students. I have never received an award for leadership or GPA before. This “Who is Who” award is recognizing a student who is in a leadership position with an above average GPA. It is nice to realize that more than one staff member felt that I was qualified enough to submit my name. This award was really rewarding. After stepping out of my previous self-confidence issues and constantly thinking I was not smart enough, this award really opened my eyes to what I am capable of. This award really means a lot.

I have also grown a lot in my faith this semester and I attribute that to me maturing in the overall sense.

HG: What is one thing you are happy you choose to do your senior year of college?

HF: I would say choosing to work at the preschool. It is really cool seeing three and four-year old’s imagination and their fun-loving life. They do not have a care in the world. They will hug anybody. There are so sweet; a couple of the little girls said I was beautiful. They are all so precious, but yes, they scream, and yes, they are loud and yes, they can be annoying especially when throwing a tantrum. The kids are really sweet they just need to be constructively work with. They said that working with kids makes you younger because you can see things from their carefree point of view instead of your college-depressed point of view.

HG: If you found importance in a Master degree in the future, would you return to the University of the Cumberlands to receive that degree?

HF: It’s possible. I am thinking of either doing a Master’s degree in counseling or social work. If I choose social work, I would not be able to return to UC as this degree is not offered. If I consider counseling, then I might consider coming back. I am finding myself leaning towards the social work right now. I will say, the plans are not to go straight into Master school right after I graduate.

HG: What would you tell a junior about organizing and prioritizing?

HF: If you do not have a planner, buy one right now. Planners have saved my life. If I do not write down an event or assignment in my planner, it does not happen. A planner helps you stay organized and helps you to remember all the responsibilities you have to do. Trust me, as a college student, you have many responsibilities, so buy a planner.