Get to know this week’s Campus Cutie is Ciara Miller! Ciara is a graduate student here at Hampton University, from Zebulon, Georgia. She is obtaining her Masters in Counseling, with a concentration in School Counseling. She has worked as a Graduate Assistant since she has attended Hampton and is currently working in Twitchell Hall (has also worked in: Twitchell, Moton, and Kelsey Hall). She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and is very involved in her church community. Her favorite thing to do is laugh and spend time with her family! Read the article below to find out more about Ciara Miller!
HC: To start off, tell me why you choose to study School Counseling?
CM: I am currently getting my Master’s in Counseling and specifically chose the “school counseling” route because I love working with the K-12 age group. So many life changes, emotions, highs, lows, failures to learn from, and successes to celebrate. I want to be a part of their journey and help them to navigate through school and ultimately live in the best way that they can.
HC: What are some of your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
CM: It depends on what day it is and what mood I am in. My family calls me a “daredevil” so anything adventurous and outside I love to do. I love to browse around in stores, whether I am buying anything or not and I also love watching movies and binge-watching shows on Netflix and Hulu (who doesn’t?) I also love to be crafty and creative, whether it’s making bulletin boards, vision boards, or making pointless little things for my friends, lol. But on any day, spending time with my family is how I want to spend my free time. I also have an acoustic guitar that I want to learn to play so badly.
HC: What is one place you would love to visit and why?
CM: I would love to visit Santorini, Greece for its beauty and culture or Israel for its history of Christ. However, a more tangible and affordable trip I am looking forward to planning in the near future is a trip to the Colorado Rocky Mountains to ski or to just visit the mountains!
HC: Tell me about your experience of traveling to Ghana?
CM: AHHHH! Ghana was amazing and I never know where to begin when people ask me about my experience. It sounds cliché but the experience was absolutely life-changing. For some reason, Africa had always been a dream destination for me but just never seemed tangible. Having the opportunity to travel with 3GC, Inc and my professor, Dr. Booker-Ammah was a God opportunity. I definitely learned that Africa is not what is constantly portrayed to us in our media. The beauty, the culture, the hustle, the history, and the spirit was felt everywhere. We participated in service-learning projects and mine was specifically focused on teaching positive affirmations and a strong sense of self-esteem to the young girls. The beauty was that as I was teaching them, they were also excited to teach me their language, culture, and just have girl talk. It’s always magic when black girls get together, no matter where we are from.
HC: What is one thing you wish you could tell your younger self?
CM: Boys had cooties then, and they still have them now (jk, lol). I would tell myself to not be anxious or self-conscious about things and if anything is not bringing you pure happiness, let it go. Also, if you knew where you would be at 25 years old, you would be so proud. It all works out and falls into place.
HC: Who is your celebrity crush?
CM: Personality gets me every time, so I love me some Will Smith and Jamie Foxx. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Jamie Foxx show have always been 2 of my favorite T.V. shows.
HC: “If you had a choice between two superpowers, being invisible or flying, which would you choose?”
CM: Flying! Traveling would be a breeze and affordable. And plus, I have no reason to be sneaking around being invisible, lol.
HC: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
CM: I would say I am charismatic. To me, my character, personality, and the way I treat others are so important. So, I try to always have a welcoming, loving, and excited demeanor when I am interacting with people. But, if you ask my sisters, they will say I am goofy. This is also true.
HC: What is one of your most memorable experiences?
CM: Growing up and playing basketball and softball from such a young age to high school has been some of the best memories I have had. Sports teach you so much more than just how to play a game. It teaches hard work, dedication, pushing past any negative thoughts we may have and just showing up every day to work and have “ridiculous intensity,” as Coach Akins used to say. You learn to work hard not only for yourself but for a team that is relying on you, and that alone is advice that can transition into every aspect of our lives.
HC: If you were given a million dollars what would you do with the money?
CM: After paying off my student debt and giving some to my family, grandparents, and church, I would absolutely invest the money somehow so it can continue making me money. I would probably buy a house, renovate it, and rent it out (shoutout to HGTV) or I would probably start a business of some sort with my sisters. I would also travel, of course.
HC: What are some of your favorite fashion trends right now?
CM: I am such a girly, girl but also love my sneakers. So, I love seeing how the fashionistas put sneakers with a super girly top or dress. My favorite wardrobe pieces are ripped jeans, mini smock dresses, and cute, flirty tops. BUT, at the end of the day, I like to buy timeless, statement pieces that are able to transition even when trends cycle out.
HC: What is one quote that you live by?
CM: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
You can follow Ciara on Instagram @cm_ciara and @ciarathecounselor_student!
Thanks for reading!
#hcxo