With another successful Commencement behind us, future High Point University graduates are commencing 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: Carleigh Luck
Hometown: Ashland, Virginia
Major: Elementary education with a literacy concentration
Post-graduation plans: Luck joins Shadybrook Elementary School as a first-grade teacher upon completing her Master’s of Elementary Education and is excited to learn and grow along with the students, and to be a champion for kids in her classroom.
How HPU helped you get there: “Overall, the school of education has prepared me to have my own classroom in ways that I can’t even express. The dedication and support of all the faculty is unmatched. The fact that I began working in classrooms as a freshman gave me a plethora of experiences to present to employers and administrators going forward. Student teaching in my senior year armed me with independence and confidence in the classroom. I am thankful that we were able to spend the entire school year with the same class, as I think it prepared me the most to have my own classroom. I learned so much about pedagogy and best teaching practices from all of my professors in the Stout School of Education, and I know I’m leaving with a solid foundation. The Office of Career and Professional Development helped me to develop a resume that highlighted all of my classroom experiences in ways that showed my knowledge and skills. In addition, having the opportunity to work as a University Ambassador allowed me to practice effective communication skills that are transferable to the interview process, as well as my future career. The Office of Career and Professional Development helped me develop a resume that I was proud to present to employers. I came into college armed with a resume that I had created for a project in high school, so learning how to create a professional and sophisticated resume was a huge asset. They also helped me write my cover letter, something that I had no idea how to even start doing. Lastly, as a graduate student, I worked in a local preschool, and the Office of Career and Professional Development armed me with various contacts throughout the area to help me find my job.”
Most impactful mentor at HPU: “My most impactful mentor at HPU is Dr. Marc Foster, director of choral activities. I came in as a freshman knowing that I wanted to sing in a choir, since I had been when I was three years old. I had no idea how much that decision would change my life. I spent all 8 semesters of undergrad in University Singers. Dr. Foster was adamant about us being our true selves. He modeled what caring for and supporting your students should look like. He talked to us about our passions and using our life in a way that was meaningful for us and the greater good of society. I left his classroom in tears multiple times, not only because of the music we created, but also the lessons that he taught us. He taught me things that you don’t learn in any other classroom. I will never have the words to thank him for the role he has played in my life.”
Most impactful moment at HPU: “I have a few, I went on two Maymesters that were both once in a lifetime experiences for me. In May 2016, I traveled to Australia with the Stout School of Education and was able to do work in primary schools in Australia. It was a place I’d always wanted to go, but never thought I’d get the chance, and to have it relate to my major and eventual career made it an invaluable learning experience. In May 2018, I traveled to Italy with the choral department. We sang in various venues around Italy, including singing mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice. It was an experience that I can’t put into words. But I think the most impactful moment isn’t just one moment. It’s a collection of moments. My brother started at HPU in 2017, my junior year. Being able to share experiences with him and watch him grow and accomplish everything that he has in his three years has been incredibly rewarding for me. We worked as ambassadors together and some of his friends have become brothers to me as well. It’s been so much fun to experience HPU alongside him, even though our paths have been different.”
Advice for underclassmen: “Take advantage of every opportunity that you have while on campus. You will never again have the resources available to you so easily as you do on HPU’s campus. Take advantage of the Office of Career and Professional Development as early as possible. If you build a relationship with them starting your freshman year, think of how prepared you will be as you prepare to graduate as a senior. Utilize the writing center. I was required to use it for one of my classes and it taught me ways to edit papers in ways that would strengthen them. Also, get involved. Find something you love or are passionate about (or start your own club) and jump in with both feet. It will lead you to your greatest friends and some of the best experiences of your college career. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I learned this lesson after my first calculus class during my first semester of freshman year. Your professors and everyone at HPU are there to help you – it’s their job! Don’t feel like you have to do it alone. It takes strength to ask for help and recognize that you need it. Lastly, remember to take care of yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup, you can’t put your best foot forward for a job, a class, a presentation or anything if you don’t first attend to your needs. The world needs who you were created to be. If something isn’t working, don’t force it. If you need to make a change, then do it. Your college years set you up for the rest of your life, and at HPU you have all of the resources available to you to ensure that you will start the rest of your life as the best version of yourself, so don’t miss that opportunity!”