Name: Bailie Sparks
Year: Junior
Major: Exercise Science
Hometown: North Augusta, South Carolina
What made you want to come to College of Charleston?
My sister went here, and for the longest time I kind of refused to come here because I didn’t want to follow in her footsteps. But when my senior year rolled around, and I started applying to different colleges, I actually only applied here.
What’s your favorite thing about College of Charleston?
The professors—I haven’t had one bad professor. I haven’t had one that’s rude or mean, they’re all just so passionate about what they do and so open, which I love because the more passionate they are the more I look forward to going to class. Like I look forward to going to anatomy, which not a normal student does.
You’re involved with a lot of organizations on campus, what all are you involved in?
Best buddies, Cougar Excursion, Leadership CofC, Student Alumni Association, Charleston Forty, Alpha Delta Pi, Phi Eta Sigma, Omicron Delta Kappa, Greek Emerging Leaders, LeaderShape, Cougar Ambassadors, International Club, Pulsar Project, and National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
What’s your favorite organization, and why?
I’m between SAA and Best Buddies.
Best buddies has helped me find what I want to do for the rest of my life and what I’m actually passionate about because I want to become an occupational therapist to work with peoplewith special needs. I found my home away from home in best buddies my first semester freshman year.
I knew SAA was good networking but the more I got into it the more I realized that these people were so genuine and so passionate about not just making the community better but making the college better. We start each meeting with singing the alma mater and it makes me so excited to be at CofC and to one day be a CofC alum.
What are your goals for the rest of your time here at The College?
My goals are actually to put myself out there and take leadership positions, because I tend to step in the background and just be a member of things when I have so much more potential in my self to be maybe philanthropy chair or vice president or secretary of something. I have always stepped out of the spotlight because I like to be involved in everything, so it’s hard for me to take my time away from one organization to put forth more in another. And trust myself more.
What are your rules to live by?
I used to put classes first above everything, which is what you’re here for in college, but at the same time I have kind of taken a step back and realized I was not having the full college experience.
You’re going to look back on college and remember that night where you went to the midnight premier of The Hunger Games. I love sleep but I saw this picture that was like “you’re not going to look back on life and remember all the nights you got plenty of sleep,” which is so true.
I think one of my rules to live by is that yeah you’re here to figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life but you’re also here to make memories along the way. I’ve definitely struggled with that, but hopefully I’m getting better.
All photos courtesy of Bailie Sparks.