Abby Granberry, 21, of Terry, has grown in too many ways to count during her time as a student at «Ӱҵ. “I was super-quiet and didn’t talk much at all,” Granberry said. “I hung in the back and didn’t want to step up.”
Attending «Ӱҵ and joining «Ӱҵ Connection, the college’s ambassador team of student leaders, and being accepted into Phi Theta Kappa honor society changed all that, she said.
“When I joined «Ӱҵ Connection, I came out of that,” she said. “I had to start talking while serving at events and giving tours on campus. I’ve grown as a speaker and as a leader, plus learned how to work with a team of people.”
Granberry is among three student speakers in as many ceremonies May 12 inside the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus. In all, 734 will participate in ceremonies May 11 for nursing and allied health graduates and May 14 inside J.D. Boyd Gymnasium at the Utica Campus. Credentials will be conferred to 1,317 graduates in all.
This semester, Granberry has served as president of the Gamma Lambda PTK chapter and vice president of Connection, will earn an associate degree from «Ӱҵ and plans to attend Mississippi College in the fall to pursue a degree in elementary education.
“I was one of seven kids growing up, so I’ve always been around them,” she said. “I love seeing those little ‘a-ha’ moments when they figure something out and get interested in learning. I was homeschooled and helped my mom teach my siblings.
“My dad was a teacher and is now a high school principal, but my thoughts went in a lot of different directions with what I wanted to do. When I was 14 or 15, I helped a second-grade class and loved it. I’ve gone with my church to volunteer at YMCA to work with second and third graders.”
Her scholastic achievements also opened doors to pay for school, including multiple scholarships.
“Financially, it made sense to come here, plus I’ve had so many opportunities to earn scholarships. I also got the experience of tests and deadlines for the first time. «Ӱҵ has a lot of support systems in place to help people transition into a traditional classroom setting.”
She now sees herself working with the same age group she’s loved being around for years.
“I want to teach second and third grade, ideally, then someday earning a master’s in administration or counseling,” she said.
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