Tell us about yourself.
My name is Devin W., and I’m from Oakdale, Minnesota. I’m going into the first semester of my Senior year as a sociology major, and I’m minoring in Religion and Urban Studies. I’ve been in the StepUP Program for the entirety of my college career.
What brought you to Augsburg?
I came to Augsburg because of StepUP. I come from a family where my mom only has a two-year degree. [College] seemed like a fantasy, not a reality. In high school, I was a really good student, but I just squandered away all my opportunities because of what I was doing with my life. Going to college is something I always wanted to do growing up, but due to the choices I made in high school it became a too far distant reality. I didn’t know if it was possible.
We had a student panel from StepUP come into my sober high school – a group of current students who were talking about their experience. They spoke about community and friendships, but the thing that really attracted me was how they said college was doable. The way they spoke about college told me “you can do it, it isn’t this impossible thing.” I think in high school, so many kids hear a narrative about how difficult college is – when really college is very, very accessible and very doable. You have to work hard but you can do it. I ended up applying and the next winter I was accepted here.
Now that you’re at Augsburg, how do you spend your time?
For fun, I like to get out and bicycle a lot – even when it gets cold out. One of my favorite hobbies – love it. I’m also doing research for my co-authored thesis in Sociology, so I can graduate with departmental honors. We’re studying how different generations become involved in what we’ve labelled as high-risk activism, which is protest, demonstrations, canvassing, boycotts, and the like. We’re studying how and if there’s a difference between baby boomers, gen-Xers, and millennials, and what mobilizes these different generations to become involved in these activities. I’ve done a lot of research papers on my own through various grants like the one I had last summer through URGO(Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity), but this has been a really cool experience thus far.
I’m also working in the library at the circulation desk which is a relaxed position that I can work on my schoolwork. In addition to those responsibilities, I’m also a student instructor for an introduction to sociology class.
What is being a student instructor like?
I sit in class, take good notes for the students, and sometimes I’ll lead an activity. Twice a week, I do instruction sessions – study groups outside of class time. Then I’ll set up individual appointments with a person who may need help in the class or with a paper. I’m like a second instructor – a peer instructor – someone students can go to that isn’t as intimidating as a professor is. It’s my favorite thing I’m doing right now.
What do you plan to do post-graduation?
With my student instructor positions, I’ve had two opportunities to do some teaching. I’m finding that I really like helping the students understand the material, especially material that I find so fascinating. I like to bring that energy to them, because I think a lot of times students don’t necessarily like what they’re learning when the professor doesn’t seem excited to be teaching it.
I’m figuring out right now if teaching is something I want to do, as I can very well see myself being a professor at a university or a college. I know definitely that I love the research aspect of sociology – I love having that knowledge, and the academic writing and reading – all of those dorky things I was too ashamed to admit that I liked before I came here. For right now I definitely want to go into research, but I can see myself being a professor as well.
What is the most valuable part of StepUP to you?
Right now, I’m looking to graduate school for a Ph.D. in Sociology for Research. That is something that I never would have thought in a million years I would have done four years ago. Never. If you would have told me four years ago that my future self wants to go for a Ph.D. in Sociology … first, I would have asked you what Sociology is, then I probably would have laughed in your face, because that just would have seemed way too crazy. That’s what I want to do with my life now.
What I think StepUP has done is provided a context for me to realize that goal, and now materialize it. I have a really good rapport with all my professors. I’ve established a really good GPA. I have accomplished a lot of these really interesting research opportunities that never would have happened if I wasn’t in a place where all of my friends are going through the exact same thing I’m going through.
It’s not only my peers that are encouraging, but the staff as well. I’ve established a really good relationship with Patrice – she has been really fundamental in helping me realize, and now materialize my potential.
What advice would you give someone who is new to StepUP?
For those just coming into the program, I would highly encourage them to make friends and build a foundation here. However, what I’ve noticed from my success is that this community has provided a context that I can rely upon. I can go out and try new things and meet people that don’t come from the same background that I come from.
I think that StepUP is the one time in your life that you have that intentional grounding specifically so that you can go out and try things that you probably wouldn’t try if you didn’t have that feeling of safety. Part of being successful here is taking a chance to befriend people that aren’t in recovery. For the rest of your life you are going to meet people who are primarily not in recovery, so this is the perfect place to learn those social skills and how to navigate those relationships and conversations. Branch out – it’s not too scary!