Here’s a quick glimpse at one of many impressive outcomes HPU graduates achieve.
Name: Paige Osche, Class of 2026
Hometown: Charlton, Massachusetts
Major: English and French
Post-graduation plans: Paige is headed to Manhattan to pursue her Creative Writing MFA at Stony Brook University.
How HPU helped you get there:
“I can safely say that the English Department here at High Point has helped prepare me for a future in creative writing and academia. Not only have I felt overwhelmingly welcomed, but the English faculty has dedicated themselves to getting to know each and every one of their students. Every English class I have taken has been beyond amazing when it comes to challenging its students to go beyond their limits and critically think about theory and literary style. I have also received an amazing range of courses from French Literature to Writing Poetry. The faculty and department engage you in every aspect of the English community through classes, clubs, honor societies, and writing opportunities like the Apogee Magazine. Since my freshman year, I have now been inducted into Sigma Tau Delta, become editor in chief of the Apogee Magazine, created a student poetry anthology, showcased my poetry and papers at research conferences, and even won awards for both my academic and creative writing. Everyone in the English Department has helped me get to where I am today, and without them, I wouldn’t have been aware of all of these amazing opportunities. They are the most supportive and caring people I have ever met, and they truly want the best for every student in their department. Now, I am going to graduate school for a Creative Writing MFA and am on the track to become a professor just like the ones who have taught me so much.”
Most impactful mentor at HPU:
My most impactful mentor here at HPU has been Dr. Charmaine Cadeau, Associate Professor of English, for a countless number of reasons. Not only is she my advisor, but she is also the faculty advisor for the Apogee Magazine. She has been my professor since my freshman year of college and has helped me grow as a writer in every phase of my life here. She has guided me toward teaching opportunities as a Teacher’s Assistant for her Creative Writing Intro class and has been my biggest influence for graduate school. She has taught me to follow my passions and has led me toward higher education. She is someone who cares about her students so intentionally that it is almost impossible to not want to try and do well in her classes. She encourages everyone to be the best writer they can be, and anyone who knows her personally knows that she changes people for the better. I am now more critical of my own work, but I look at it without internal judgment. She instills a positive work ethic in her students and guides them to be people who push themselves farther than they think they can go.
Most impactful moment at HPU:
My most impactful moment at HPU was the Maymester Global Experience abroad. After I joined the French Department and declared a French major, I was instantly excited to discover the school’s study abroad opportunities. With the help of the Go Global Grant every student receives upon acceptance and the guidance of the French faculty, I was able to plan a semester abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France, cost-effectively. I had never traveled outside of the country before this class, but my time in France with HPU and the French Department has given me an experience of a lifetime. I made new friends, explored an entire country and learned so much about the culture there. HPU does an amazing job of planning these trips, and my friends and faculty helped make it my most memorable moment. I will never forget walking back from the town market after class with my friends and discovering a new place to eat every day. It was the most amazing time.
How has HPU’s inspiring environment contributed to your success?
HPU’s inspiring environment has allowed me to see what a life of success looks like. Being surrounded by a campus that reflects dedication and attention to detail inspires me to be the best version of myself every day. I think the school’s exterior mirrors an internal motivation to continue presenting yourself and your work as exceptionally as possible.
What are the Life Skills HPU helped you develop for long-term success?
HPU has helped me become very proactive when it comes to seeking out research and publishing opportunities for my poetry and my scholarly writing. I plan to work as a professor, and a big problem I faced upon arriving at High Point was that I didn’t know how to network, gain insight into leadership and academic opportunities, and just seek out advancements for myself. This school and the English Department have been a great help in discovering opportunities that I didn’t even know were out there, and it has ultimately helped me grow as a person professionally and academically. I am much more confident in my work, and I now have the skills to find and carve new pathways for myself.
What are the values and virtues HPU’s campus helped you develop that you’ll take with you after graduation?
There is a sense of accountability and rigor that pushes its students to a new level of educational prestige and success that I have found to be the most helpful. Specifically, during my time in the French Department, I have seen the high expectations and the amount of dedication that the faculty requires from their students, and it is refreshing and inspiring. The school, but more specifically, the French Department, has taught me what it means to push yourself beyond what you think you are capable of, and they’ve also given me a worldly outlook, encouraging me to learn what’s beyond the borders of your own country.
Advice for underclassmen:
My advice to underclassmen is really just to capitalize on every opportunity the school has to offer. We are blessed to be at a school like HPU because of its life skills opportunities and limitless ways to explore your interests. If you are passionate about something, try it. If you want to pick up a second language, do it. The school has the resources for you to excel in any aspect of your life, and it would be a shame to miss out on so many amazing moments when all you have to do is find them. Ask your professors about clubs and honors societies, get involved in research, be a part of the school community, and give back to the school that is helping you succeed. Building lasting connections and optimizing on every opportunity will be what aids you after graduation, but more importantly, the leadership skills you build during your four years will ultimately guide you to post-graduation success. Never stop trying to do better, and never settle for the easy way out. Push yourself beyond your limits, and HPU will be there to help catch you when you fall and send you back out into the world, ready for the next phase of life.
Are you an HPU graduate with exciting news to share?
Share your news with us for a chance to be featured!