Meet Tatyana Kitchen! She is a Sociology major at Savannah State University. Also, the VP of Sisters Striving for Excellence, Inc., a member of Queens Without a Crown, Inc., a successful student, and a community assistant. As a queen on the rise, Her Campus Savannah State sought out to interview her.
Get to know Tatyana
HC: What are three fun facts you would like for our readers to know about you?
Tatyana: I am extremely funny even when I’m not trying to be, when I get nervous my voice cracks and I sound like a 6-year-old child, and I love to eat. If you want to be my friend always spoil me with food.
HC: Why did you choose Sociology as your major?
Tatyana: I want to study society as a whole. I want to know why are certain things categorized and why are people categorized. There is a lot to learn about society and I am excited to learn and understand it.
HC: What do you hope to accomplish after graduation?
Tatyana: I want to get my master’s in Public Administration and or Public Health.
HC: How important is a college education to you?
Tatyana: Being a black woman, better yet being black, in this country no one expects us to excel in higher education. Beating the odds is always a great thing and it’s important because we are role models to the next generation of young black kids.
Tatyana’s Experience at SSU
HC: Why did you decide to attend Savannah State University?
Tatyana: It was not my first choice but I saw the hashtags on twitter and people talking about it and it’s closer to my home.
HC: How would you describe your college experience?
Tatyana: My experience went from bad to good in 3 semesters. I learned so much and I’m still learning. I have more to experience and achieve.
HC: What is your favorite part about college?
Tatyana: Making honor roll for the first time and being invited to the ceremony. Being around other scholars, made me feel like I mattered and I loved that feeling.
HC: What are some of your favorite memories at Savannah State University?
Tatyana: Favorite memory as a freshman was welcome week, and as a sophomore it was joining Sisters Striving For Excellence Inc, Queens Without A Crown Inc, and becoming a community assistant all in one semester.
HC: If you could go back and relive or redo any experience in college what would it be?
Tatyana: I would make better grades because now I know I have what it takes to be a honor student and now a honor graduate.
HC: If you could change one thing about your college career what would it be?
Tatyana: My freshman year I wasn’t involved. I wasn’t inspired and I did not have any confidence.
HC: What are you most proud of accomplishing in college?
Tatyana: I am most proud of realizing I can be great. I can achieve any goal I put my mind to and when I joined not one but two sisterhood organizations plus becoming a public figure as a Community Assistant I knew I had reached my level of confidence and greatness I will forever be proud of myself for Spring 2017.
HC: As a senior what do you wish you could have told your freshman self?
Tatyana: Although it is supposed to be my senior year it is my junior year. I would’ve told myself books over boys, go to class, get involved, and find a mentor.
HC: What motivates you to keep going, knowing how hard college can be?
Tatyana: My family. They go through so much to make sure I am taken care of. So, I don’t have stress and can finish college. I owe them everything
HC: Who’s your biggest inspiration?
Tatyana: Other than my family and god, I have two people, my mentor Miss Jacqueline Ratliff. She is very intelligent and she has her life together. She always knows what to say to me to get me inspired and I love her so much. Also, my sisters Kayla, Jazmine, Adrian, Shylyn, Zhane, and Naomi. We all have so much going on for ourselves and we still cheer each other on. They inspire me to never give up and to keep going. My campers, that I work with at the Georgia Lions Camp For the Blind, they inspire me to believe in myself and to not ask for self-pity. They help me to believe that I am strong and independent.
HC: What advice can you give incoming freshman?
Tatyana: Please write your goals down before you step foot on this campus, remember why you are here, it will always be books over boys, go to class, get to know your professors, and not only get involved in organizations you should always volunteer and do community service to better our campus community. This is your school so treat it with respect.
HC: What are you looking forward to for the upcoming year?
Tatyana: I’m looking forward to more networking, more honor roll, and more involvement from other students.
Sisters Striving for Excellence, Inc. and Queens Without A Crown, Inc.
HC: Why did you join Sisters Striving for Excellence, Inc.?
Tatyana: I did not choose SSE, SSE chose me. They saw the potential I had to be a great leader and how hard working I was. So, god placed me in this organization and they have helped me grow in many ways. I can’t explain the level of maturity and the bonds I have created. I cannot love them even more than I do now for teaching me how to be a collegiate woman and how to make my collegiate years successful.
HC: Why should other girls join the organization?
Tatyana: I’m not going to tell them why they should join because that’s also telling them why they shouldn’t join the other wonderful sisterhood organizations on campus. SSE will choose you, it will capture you heart, and it will capture your mind. It all depends on what you believe in and what type of improvement you want to make while being at Savannah State. All the sisterhood organizations believe in sisterhood. That’s always our priority but we also have different mission statements. Do your research and it will guide you where you should be.
HC: What do you all have planned for the upcoming season?
Tatyana: We have more community service events to include students to get more involved. Our Man of Excellence and his Men have more opportunities to get more young men involved around campus as well. Please follow us on social media for updates. we cannot wait for the school year!!
HC: Can you tell me more about Queens Without a Crown, Inc.
Tatyana: 2. Queens Without A Crown, Inc is a sisterhood organization that was founded by Miss Taylor Pecot to motivate young women and to teach us that we do not have to wear a crown to be a Queen. We are already Queens and always will be Queens. We are planning to have a great year. Be on the lookout for our events.
To hear and see more from Tatyana Kitchen make sure to follow her.
Twitter: tatyalexzandria
Snapchat: tatyana2k14
Facebook: Tatyana A Kitchen
Instagram: Tatyana Kitchen
And Follow Sisters Striving for Excellence, Inc.