This week our girl of the week is our lovely Assistant Dir of PR, Taylor Allen! Taylor is a beautiful, bubbly, fresh breath of air on campus! Taylor has a joy about her that is infectious. She’s constantly making everyone around her laugh and not to mention she’s the funniest person that I know! Read her article and try not to smile!
Otissia: What is your major & why did you pick it?
Taylor: I am a Homeland Security and Emergency Management student. I chose this major because I wanted to learn more about what goes into keeping us safe as a country. I wanted to know it all; the planning, the execution, and the aftermath and I wanted to know just how important our Department of Homeland Security is.
Otissia: What are you aspirations for your degree & career path?
Otissia: Being an NROTC student at SSU, I would hope that my major helps me in the fleet. After college I would like to work for the government, hopefully at the Pentagon. I also aspire to join the Peace Corps.
Taylor: Why did you decide to attend Savannah State University?
Otissia: I decided to attend Savannah State University because I wanted to go to school in the South. I am from Washington, D.C. and I wanted a change. I also looked at many schools in the South that offered the NRTOC program. So Savannah State was a perfect match for me!
Otissia: What are three of your favorite things about Savannah State University?
Taylor: I love the campus. Although it isn’t the largest campus that I have seen, I can say that it is the most beautiful. I believe the students take pride in the appearance of the campus and we do our best to maintain its beauty.
I like the people. Everyone at Savannah State is happy and honored to be here and it shows in the way we carry ourselves.
I absolutely love the programs that Savannah State has to offer its students. We have military commissioning programs, scholarships, internships, and so much more. I think for the school to be as small as we are, we offer some of the best opportunities for students to excel and perform.
Otissia: What 2 pieces of advice can you give incoming freshmen?
Taylor: Manage your time: It is easy to get to college and get wrapped up in the new freedoms that you have, but it’s also very important to handle your business. You are here to earn your degree first, and that is something that should never be forgotten.
Branch out: Don’t wait until your junior year to try and become involved on campus. Go to events, go to parties, and socialize with EVERYONE! We all have a common goal and getting out there and mingling will help you meet people who can help and support you along the way.
Otissia: What are 2 things you’ve learned about yourself so far attending Savannah State?
Taylor: One thing I have learned about myself is that it’s okay to push yourself. In high school I was always comfortable. I took classes I knew I could pass, I played sports that I knew I was good at, but I never really challenged myself until I got to college. With that being said, I’m still here, pushing and motivating myself and it has shown me that I am capable of doing more than I thought. And that it is okay to be uncomfortable because in the end it is only making me stronger.
I have also learned that it is okay to be yourself at all times. Sometimes we get around others from different places or who are in different organizations and because we want to be a part of the “in crowd”, we go through changes. I did not necessarily try and change myself, but I was often comparing myself to others wondering if I was too different or that I wouldn’t be understood. And I have learned that those differences are what makes college great. We grow from one another and we are able to look at others in a positive way and admire, as opposed to wanting to change ourselves.
Otissia: Are you in any organizations or plan on joining any organizations & why?
Taylor:
- NROTC
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.; Ravishing Rho Beta Chapter
- Student Orientation Leaders (SOL’s)
- NAACP
- National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS)
Otissia: Now to the fun part! As a wonderful member of Her Campus of Savannah State University, why did you decide to join?
Taylor: I decided to join HerCampus of Savannah State because I saw all of the vital information that it provides collegiate women. I saw an article online and it was so interesting that I kept reading articles and I was just amazed at how spot on the topics were, and how these are things that college women deal with on a regular basis. After about an hour of reading, I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of.
Otissia: What do you plan on gaining from Hcsavannahstate?
Taylor: I plan on gaining knowledge about things I didn’t previously know. Although a member of HerCampus, I learn something new from each member as they post articles and as we communicate with one another.
Otissia: What would you like to see from Hcsavannahstate this year?
Taylor: I would like to see HCSavannahState be the no. 1, go-to organization when students have problems and want advice. I want us to be confidants for young ladies here and I would like to see us being one of the top organizations on campus.
Otissia: What is your favorite thing about Hcsavannahstate?
Taylor: My favorite thing about HCSavannahState is the support that we have for one another. We did not all know each other before joining the organization, nor are we are not all best friends, but there will always be 100% support from everyone in HC Savannah State, in whatever we are doing on campus and in the community.
Otissia: What are three unique things you would like for our readers to know about you?
Taylor:
- I LOVE telling/ laughing at corny jokes
- Turtles are my favorite animal
- As a child, I wanted to be a detective based on what I saw on Law & Order
Otissia: Who’s your biggest inspiration and motivation to be the remarkable woman that you are?
Taylor: My biggest inspiration would be former First Lady Michelle Obama. She’s a boss. She has two degrees from two Ivy League schools, and she has never let anyone stop her from achieving her goals. She has many accomplishments both prior to and while serving as First Lady of the United States. She is a strong Black woman, and I aspire to have that same disciple and motivation to make a difference in the world.
Otissia: In five years where do you see yourself?
Taylor: In five years I would like to see myself stationed in Rota, Spain as a Lieutenant on a surface ship. I would love to be married by then and starting a life with a wonderful husband. In five years I will really start considering what I want to do after military service, including planning to join the Peace Corps.
You can keep up with this beauty by following her social media handles
Ig: tayyylorrrc
SC: taylorrr.c
Twitter: amortaylorrr