Our Campus Celebrity this week is none other than Matt Atkins. We thought it was time for all of you to get to know the person that has inspired many FIU students. So here is a just a little bit about the guy who has become a leader on campus.
Age: 21
Major: Psychology
Year: Junior- graduating in 2015
What made you want to major in Psychology?
Originally I came to FIU as a Hospitality major, but I changed it because I got so involved on campus that I didn’t want to leave MMC. So I switched to Psychology because I actually want to get my Master’s Degree in Higher Education and work at a university and I though that the Psychology field would be most beneficial to a future of working with college students.
What are you involved with on Campus?
I was a 2012 Peer Advisor (PA), a Peer Mentor, I have been a Resident Assistant (RA) since 2012, I am the Member Standards Chair in my fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) and was this past year’s Vice President, I am the Secretary of the Student Programming Council, I was the 2013 Homecoming Council University Relations Chair, I am on the Summerfest Committee, I am a member of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), I am a member of FIU’s Order of the Torch (OT), and I served as the Treasurer for the Lakeview Hall Council in 2011-2012.
What was it like being able to give a speech at the 2013 freshman convocation?
When I was asked to give the speech I immediately said yes because I felt it was a huge honor, however, it was a lot of hectic work. I had to write the speech in two days and turn it into the Dean of Undergraduate Education and then wake up at 7am every morning to practice speaking, body language and memorization for an hour with the Communications Department Chair, and then get to my all day RA training right after. I only had about a week to memorize it all. Then we had one day to practice on stage in the arena. After all the preparations you would think I was prepared to get up there, but I was extremely nervous. I had great crowd interaction; when I would say my involvements, the other students who have done the same things would cheer, and that was really helpful for me and it felt awesome. I would definitely say that getting to speak in front of the 2013 freshman class was one of my highest honors here at FIU.
What are you plans after graduation?
After graduation, I want to attend graduate school somewhere that is just as diverse as FIU. I want to get my Master’s Degree in Higher Education and work for a University’s Campus Life Department, and then one day I would love to come back and work at FIU.
What has been your most memorable experience here at FIU?
I have so many it’s really hard to pick just one, but I think one of my most memorable moments was when my RA staff last year in University Towers won the RA training spirit competition. We beat the other building by just one point at the end of that very long two weeks and it felt amazing to win something our brand new team had put so much work into. Our supervisor announced our name by beginning our staff cheer and we went crazy!
Describe yourself in one word.
I usually go with “awesome.”