Monday, May 1, 2017

Photo by: Hannah Foster                                                          
"All Smiles Graduation is only a week away."

Profile of Hannah Foster

Hannah Foster clenches her daily planner and holds it tightly to her chest while saying, “My advice for college students is go buy a planner. Now.”

Hannah, a UC senior, is the role model to follow if one is eager to learn how to balance academic success with personal peace.We talked recently in her dorm room, it started at ten o’clock on the couch; due to her busy schedule this was her only opening as she kindly slid back her bed time to eleven. Hannah is in bright pink polka-dotted pajama pants and a Bigs and Littles T-shirt from years past. She begins by explaining how closely she keeps her calendar updated and filled with beautiful colors of completion.

Hannah stands firm on having a planner even if it means purchasing one. She stated in the interview that her main advice for rising juniors is, “Go buy a planner, now.” 

Lesley Foster, Hannah’s mom, made reference to the planner as one of the main reasons Hannah handles the schedule she has. Lesley slightly giggling as she recalls her talk with Hannah; says, “Organization isn’t easy; you’ve get a planner and then get your syllabus and write everything down.” One thing is for sure Hannah is utilizing her planner as a way to continue towards academic success. 

Organization is only one key element that led to Hannah’s academic success. As we talked it became more apparent that Hannah is also a very responsible individual. She is tackling a double major, two jobs, and two clubs that she is heavily involved in. 

Hannah’s blonde curly hair is the only uncontrolled aspect in Hannah’s life. As May 2017 creeps closer and closer Hannah will eventually conquer her double major studies by receiving her diploma for a BA in Pschology and a BA in Human Services. She will also reach her end of working two jobs; her work-study librarians assistant and her position at the local children's day care.

Lastly, in her senior year, Hannah served as the President of the women’s service club Bigs and Littles, as well as serves as an impacting bible study leader for the club Baptist Campus Ministries(BCM). Without skipping a beat, Hannah is noticed all over campus walking from one appointment to the other, but not in a way that displays uncertainty or exhaustion, instead she is seen smiling holding her head high with confidence. Despite Hannah’s need for glasses, her crystal blue eyes can clearly see through her busy schedule and chooses to focus on the fact that graduation is near. 

Hannah displays extensive commitment to not only her academics but also her work. In fact her boss of her work-study position, Carrie Byrd the Librarian at UC said, “Hannah has worked for me since she has stepped foot on campus. Hannah doesn’t hold back effort; I don’t think twice about turning her loose on a task because I am confident I will get good results from her.” Hannah stresses the way for juniors to learn how to become responsible is to simply start writing down a list of the assignments due and mark them off as you complete them. This makes all the assignments more doable. 

Throughout our interview Hannha doesn’t claim personal victory over her accomplishments; instead she points all her success back to God. Hannah said, “The most influential thing I learned my senior year, something I would most definitely offer as advice to juniors is, continue to make time for the Lord. Your relationship with Him is the most important thing in your life; don’t push spending time with the Lord off.” 

Hannah continues, “Reflecting back on (me) Hannah as a freshman and seeing (me) Hannah as a senior, it is a huge difference; a completely different person. 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 realize I AM smart enough. I feel like I am more intuitive and I think a lot more in depth on 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 my professors in a respectful manner even when we do not agree.” Hannah attributes her ability to act on what she has learned to God; giving Him all the glory.

Lesley Foster mentioned she too noticed that as a child Hannah was always learning. She said, “We moved a lot when Hannah was a child because my husband is a pastor; and as a result Hannah developed a true sense of how to learn. She learned how to become a friend and how to make them. If Hannah is your friend, you have a true friend.” 

Madisan Miller, vice president of UC’s Bigs and Littles, says, “Hannah has a zest for life and she has a love for people; and truly wants to make a difference. She is one of those people who wants to make a difference but sees the value in doing so on a small scale; encouraging the ripple effect, where helping one person can lead to the helping of another person.” Anyone can help others. The encouragement Hannah offers to juniors is, “If you did your best and earned a C, then proudly accept that C; earning a C is ok as long as you did your best.”

Hannah realizes this life presents many tasks and it demands every ounce of energy one has, but she begs one not to forget the little things/ joys/ people in life too. Hannah mentioned she was thankful she chose to work at the Corbin Preschool Center her senior year. She says, “It is really cool seeing three and four-year olds’ imagination and their fun-loving lifestyle. They do not have a care in the world. They will hug anybody. There are so sweet; a couple of the little girls even said I was beautiful; so I hugged them!”

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