With another successful commencement behind us, recent High Point University graduates are preparing to commence prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other esteemed organizations thanks to their journey at HPU. Here’s a glimpse of one extraordinary senior from the Class of 2016:
Name: Erika Peoples
Hometown: Brentwood, Tennessee
Major: Peoples graduated with an B.S. in Exercise Science, with a concentration in Health and Wellness and a minor in Psychology, on May 7.
Post-graduation plans: Peoples will attend graduate school for her master’s in Health and Human Performance at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. After she receives her degree, Peoples plans to pursue a career in community and public health.
How HPU helped you get there: “High Point has provided me with an education that I would not have been able to receive elsewhere. I was drawn to the university for its small class sizes as well as the opportunity for research and growth. The professors in the Exercise Science field go above and beyond, preparing students for furthering their education or building them with the skills necessary to take into the workplace. All of my professors helped me navigate through my four years and taught me so many lessons along the way. That is what I loved at HPU: the character and guidance my professors gave to me.
I met with Eric Melniczek in Career and Professional Development freshman year, and he helped me to search for my first job the summer after freshman year. I then took a career development class with him sophomore year and learned valuable skills such as face-to-face interviewing tactics and how to search for the ‘best-fit’ jobs.”
Most impactful mentor at HPU: “My cross country and track & field teammates made this experience enjoyable, challenging and worthwhile for me. Being a Division 1 student-athlete comes with an immediate schedule but also instant friends. My best friends are the teammates I surrounded myself with over the past 4 years, and they taught me what it’s like to stand on your own two feet (away from home) and they taught me what it’s like to exemplify hard work. “
Advice for underclassmen: “Do not take anything for granted! The people you surround yourself with help mold you into the person you become, so choose wisely. As far as career goals go, take the initiative to speak with your professors and have them connect you to individuals that have had a similar path to yours. Venture over to Career and Professional Development, because they truly want to do everything in their power to help you. Over the last four years at HPU, they have helped me rewrite my resume, contact interested employers, and sharpen up my interviewing skills. Every professor and individual on this campus wants to help you, so please do not hesitate to ask.“