With Commencement just around the corner, future High Point University graduates are already preparing to commence prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other esteemed organizations thanks to their journey at HPU. Here’s a glimpse of one extraordinary senior from the Class of 2020:
Name: Grayson Norris
Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Major: Biochemistry
Post-graduation plans: Norris will be attending the University of Oklahoma to pursue his Doctor of Medicine.
How HPU helped you get there: “High Point University has a way of connecting you with people. My professors and colleagues within the Biochemistry Department helped me to succeed. Early in my studies, I was able to befriend many people within my major and today these are some of my best friends. I can honestly say that I made a lasting connection with almost every single professor in the Biochemistry Department. There are times when I have sat in each of their offices simply to talk about modern science as well as future direction. As beautiful as the campus of High Point is, it is the people within my major and my professors that I will miss the most.”
Most impactful mentor at HPU: “I first met Dr. Jackson Sparks my second semester of sophomore year when I was enrolled in his genetics course. His enthusiasm and interest in the material are what sparked an urge for me to do well in his class. His knowledge and love of college basketball also prompted me to sit down in his office one day and simply talk about the upcoming tournament. Little did I know that we would end up talking for almost two hours and, following this, I would stop by his office frequently just to chat. Dr. Sparks wrote one of my recommendation letters for graduate school and I am thankful for this because Dr. Sparks truly knows me as not just a student, but as a person. I believe that HPU is among the best at creating an environment for professors to truly know their students, and I am thankful for the guidance and friendship that Dr. Sparks has given me. ”
Most impactful moment at HPU: “Being surrounded by my friends at HPU when I discovered that I was accepted to medical school was my most impactful moment at HPU. I was in Boone, North Carolina, on my way back from a day on the ski slopes when I opened my email and saw that I had been accepted to medical school. With shaking hands, I looked over at my friends and told them. They were incredibly excited for me and they were smiling just as big as I was. I will never forget how I felt during that moment and I will never forget where I was. I am thankful that HPU brought so many incredible people into my life. Little did I know on move-in day that I would one day be in the car with the best friends I’ve ever had celebrating the best news I have ever heard. It was the best moment of my life and it wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for HPU. ”
Advice for underclassmen: “Continue working when nobody else will, that is how you will separate yourself from others.”