Student Q & A: Alexa Bill shows the power of 'and'

Alexa Bill, double major in history and social studies education in the Mary Frances Early College of Education, and triple minor in classics, European studies & historic preservation in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences shows the power of the ampersand with her multiple academic pursuits as well as many interests on and off campus.

1. What advice would you give to high school students who are preparing for the college application process?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. While in high school you have counselors and teachers willing to work with you to help prepare you for college and your decisions. It can feel daunting, especially when there are so many different colleges, but taking the applications bit by bit and working through them slowly can really help. I would also recommend narrowing down your college list to your dream school, some ones that you would feel happy also going to and then a “safe” school that you feel 100% confident in getting accepted to. I’d also recommend making sure to create good relationships with your teachers, that way you feel comfortable asking for letters of recommendation when they are needed. Another wonderful thing with the application process is that you can reuse your different application essays! Save all of them and their prompts in a file, and as you’re going through the application, see if a previous essay (with maybe some minor tweaks, of course) would also work for the application. It saves time, and you’ve already done the work for it. 

2. What helped you decide that UGA was right for you? 

When I was looking at college, I considered three main areas in my college search. How big the campus was, the prestige of my intended major and finally, if it was in Georgia and public or not. As a citizen of Georgia, I was eligible for the Hope and Zell Miller Scholarships. These played a large part in my college search, narrowing it down to public universities in Georgia. Then, I looked at schools that had good history departments and what their campus is like. My sister went to West Georgia, and while she loved it I didn’t like how small the campus was, and how it was in a smaller town. UGA has a wonderful history and education program, and it is a big enough campus that there is always something new for me to explore. Athens is a fun city in of itself, and I have loved trying out all the restaurants with my friends. I also can’t say that I don’t mind going to a school that has a bulldog for a mascot (I love dogs), my favorite colors as the school’s colors (red is one of my favorite colors, and black looks good with anything), and to have a school that constantly beats all of my friends’ colleges (go dawgs!).

3. How did you choose your major? Can you provide a highlighted overview of what the major entails? 

I chose history because I knew how much I loved the subject. I have always planned to go into academia and teaching, and I thought that having a better grasp on overall history would be beneficial. I loved the program, because not only is it getting to study such a wide range of history (in the same semester I took a class on Ancient Greece and Society as well as a class on the History of the Soviet Union, which was amazing!) but it also teaches you more than what the high school classroom teaches. You learn about the different perspectives, how to do your own primary research (on one project, I had to trace the deeds of a property from the 1800s to the 1900s!), how to analyze and understand the complexities of history and so much more. It makes you realize that history is not just about some dead people or some dates you have to memorize, but instead broadening your understanding of research and knowledge. Suffice to say, I never regretted choosing my major. 

My social studies education major has also been amazing! While the two do overlap as my education major requires me to take a certain number of history classes, the education classes have been just as beneficial. Although my end career goal is going into academia, I would also love to teach high school history, to help students look at history differently. My education major helps me prepare for that fully, and I am so excited to start student teaching this fall. With my education major, it focuses on preparing students for teaching in the education system, with how to best help your students with and without disabilities, how to lesson plan and how to handle serious and strenuous topics. History is full of controversy, and learning the different ways that teachers can guide discussion and allow students to learn for themselves have been one of my favorite parts of my major. 

4. Is there anything about the application process or just college search in general you wished you would've known sooner? 

Honestly just save all of your stuff from high school and your applications. Put them in a Google folder and have it organized, because as you’re doing the process you’re going to forget if you already have a promised letter of recommendation, or if you’ve sent the transcripts, or your AP scores, etc. It can get overwhelming, so don’t forget to keep a list. Also, pay attention to due dates! There is usually an early application and regular decision application, and make sure you remember which one you plan to apply for, and to stick with that schedule. 

5. What’s one or multiple myths or conceptions you’d like to quash? 

As for the college search process, one myth is you’ll never be accepted so why even bother applying. Don’t be afraid to apply! You never know what can happen, and it’s better to have put your best foot forward than no foot at all. 

About starting college, even if it feels overwhelming, you can do it! There is no magic or correct way to do college (aside from not cheating), so take the time. If you need to take a gap year, there is nothing wrong with that. If you end up switching majors your junior year, there is nothing wrong with that. College is your journey, not your parents’, and not anyone else’s, it’s yours. Take your time, and enjoy the ride. 

6. Favorite organization you are involved in? 

Prince Avenue College Ministries.

7. Do you have an impactful story or something you felt like you gained from being involved in any of these organizations?

Being part of this group has allowed me to meet so many people that share similar faith with my own, and I have loved getting to meet so many people. My roommates and my consequent best friends were found through Bible Studies that the organization had, and I have loved hanging out with them at Cook Out and playing frisbee on the quad with them. 

8. Have these organizations “opened a door for your future” or taught you anything about what you might want to do after graduation? 

Through this organization, I work with kindergarteners and it has reminded me of how much I love to teach. While I do not plan to be a kindergarten teacher, it still excites me for my future with working with any kind of students. 

9. From your perspective of being involved on campus, what advice would you give to a prospective student that might be too timid to be involved in “too much” or secondly, might not know where to start/what they would like to be involved in? 

The wonderful thing about UGA is there is always something going on. Whether it be through clubs or events or sports games or something, there is always something to join. The number of pick-up games I joined without knowing anyone was surprisingly high, especially as I didn’t even know how to play half of the games. But because something is always going on, that means that you can’t do everything. And that’s ok! There are so many wonderful opportunities you can throw yourself into at college and choosing one over the other does not mean you hate it, or that you’re never going to look at it or maybe even attend an event later, it just means that right now you wanted to do something else a little bit more, and that’s ok. Don’t be afraid to try new things, either. College is about learning, and what better way to learn than to join something you’ve never tried before. When I failed at frisbee the first couple of times, I was never judged for it, because the other players were excited to teach me! Don’t be afraid to try something. Don’t be afraid about being involved too much, either! The world is your oyster, and you know your limits better than anyone (and if you don’t, it’s a good time to learn). Take on responsibilities and commitments that you feel you can handle, but don’t be ashamed about having to take a step back from any. 

On the flip side, don’t be afraid to get involved. It can feel overwhelming, but some of the best places to start are by just exploring campus. See what flyers are posted in halls and dorms, and don’t be afraid to attend a meeting. If you don’t like it? You don’t have to come back to that club, don’t be afraid to try another instead. There are so many wonderful options on campus, and again, you have the freedom to decide to join the club or not. 

10. Can you tell me about your First-Year Odyssey course at UGA and how it impacted your academic journey? 

My first-year odyssey course was The Study of Habits, where in the course we read the book Atomic Habits and chose three habits we either wanted to implement in our life, or stop. The class was small, and the professor worked hard to speak with each of us individually and always offered up advice if we needed it. I adored the class, not only because of the friends that I made during the class and the professor, but just because of how fun it was. I loved learning about different habit techniques, and with what I learned in the class I was able to implement in my studying habits and other areas of my life, like working out.

11. Have you participated in any Study Away programs? If so, can you share more about your experience with this. 

 I am about to go to Croatia. I will be part of the Historical Preservation and Classics Study Away for May 2024, and I am so excited to be part of it. 

12. Did you take advantage of any academic resources on campus? 

As a history major, there is a stronger emphasis on essays and writing than in some other majors. Thankfully, I worked with the different writing resources we had on campus, where my essays could be peer-reviewed and I could be given feedback on them. They were really helpful, and it was very easy to sign up. 

13. Favorite UGA tradition? 

My favorite UGA tradition has to be ringing the chapel bell. Whenever there is something worth celebrating, such as getting an A on a paper, going on a date, the dawgs winning, you can go and ring the bell in North Campus. I always love doing it after a hard exam or essay, but the reason it’s my favorite is that the bell is just so loud. Even if I’m not the one ringing it, in north campus you can still hear the bell as it rings. I love that, because now I know that someone else just had something good happen. Even if I’m stressed studying for an exam, I can hear the bell ringing and know that although I may not feel particularly in a good mood, there are still celebrations, and a hope that I can soon ring the bell too. 

14. Favorite spot-on campus? 

Anywhere by the Founder’s Garden. It’s a beautiful garden tucked away in North Campus, and different park benches are littered around it. Even though it’s right next to a main road, you almost don’t even realize it because of how dense the foliage is. I’ve spent many hours either just sitting and enjoying the peace, or even with my notes as I’ve studied for tests. There’s even a small fountain and a path that you can walk on, and if you’re ever in North Campus, I’d recommend exploring it! 

15. Any advice that you would want to share with prospective students? 

I started off these questions by saying don’t be afraid to ask questions, and I’ll reiterate it here as well. Don’t be afraid! College is a new experience for every student coming in, and trust me when I say that they are all just as scared as you. Don’t hesitate to try and reach out and make friends, because most likely other people are looking for friends too. Don’t be scared to make study clubs. Studying can become overwhelming, but doing it with other people from your classes can really help overall, and just as with making friends, other people in your classes probably also want the study help too. Your professors, while they may seem intimidating at first, are people too. They’ve been college students before, and they understand what you are going through, more than you think. Don’t be afraid to reach out if you ever need to, and don’t be afraid to talk to them. One of my professors had a time before class called “tea time” (not his office hours) where he would welcome any students in and pour them a cup of tea. Some of my favorite and most interesting conversations occurred during tea time, and I felt much more comfortable talking to him when I was struggling with something afterward.

A few more questions:

1. Are you pursuing the Double Dawgs program? 

I am pursuing double dawgs with my Social Studies Education Major, and I intend to get my Masters in Social Studies as well. So far, it has been a wonderful experience. My advisor is knowledgeable about the program and is willing to work with me on it. Any questions that she cannot answer she directs me to who would have the answers, and finding the other students in the double dawgs program creates a close community that we can all rely on. 

2. What are some reasons why you’d encourage a student to consider being a Double Dawg?

 If you are confident about what you want your masters in, go for it. It is not only cost effective but it saves some time. It allows you to also do the degree at UGA (score!) and you will be with professors who you already are familiar with. 

3. What's one or multiple misconception(s) about transferring you'd like to quash? 

Although I did not transfer, from what my friends who have transferred have told me, it is not as hard to connect as people may think it is. There are still so many clubs and organizations to join at any time, and your advisors will work with you to make sure you have the right classes. People are always looking for new friends, so don’t worry about trying to connect or get plugged in. UGA is big enough for all of us. 

4. What advice would you give to a student that's looking at transfer options?

 Keep track of what classes may and may not transfer over, and be aware that you might have to reapply for your major at your new college. 

5. Do you have any differing perspectives about college in general, being an out of state student vs an in-state student? 

As an in-state student, sometimes you’re going to run into people from your high school or even elementary school. Depending on the people and your past experiences, this could either be good, bad, or just weird. It can be disorienting, especially if you were looking to start anew in college. That’s what it was like for me sometimes, but the beautiful thing about it is that these people are not your entire life. They may even end up in the same apartment complex as you (true story), but that does not mean they have to be part of your life. I have new people in my life whom I love, and I am involved in different organizations which I love and I am quite busy with my life which I love. Do not worry about others. They are dealing with their life, and you can deal with your own.