Students browse at last chance IMPACT session

Troy University held an orientation for new or transferring students on Monday, just two days before the beginning of the spring semester. 

The event, called Last Chance IMPACT, is a one-day orientation where new students are shown around campus, introduced to their interested departments and allowed time to browse through the options for clubs, organizations and other involvement opportunities.

This event is similar to the two-day IMPACT freshman orientation over the summer, but on a smaller scale for those starting at Troy in the spring. 

The event saw many transfer-students in attendance as they adapt to changes or shifts in focus in their life. One of those students is Qudiamond Patton, a sophomore collaborative special education major from Greenville, Alabama, who is transferring from Lurleen B. Wallace Community College. 

“The opportunity to do a lot of my stuff online is a good interest as well because I'm a single mother,” Patton said. “So, I need to be with the kids a lot, so it, kind of, will help me get the degree that I wanted as far as taking care of my kids and doing what I want to do.” 

Many universities offer online course options, though. For Patton, the sense of community built around Troy was the selling point. 

“The student body and how the teachers and students come together for the school interested me a lot,” Patton said. “I come from a strong community, or, well, my family is my strong community, and they push me to be the best. 

“So, if you have somebody other than your family in your corner, for you to be the best, you'll be more successful.” 

Of the many involvement opportunities shown to the incoming Trojans, the Greek organizations and the community they create seemed to be a major hit. 

“Just like the brotherhood of it interests me, you know, they're all cool and you make friends and it's just neat, coming together in a fraternity,” said Truitt Gowan, a freshman general business major from Dothan, Alabama. 

Another transfer student cited the ease of networking and building relationships as the driving factor in his decision to join the Trojan Family. 

“I just had a bunch of friends here,” said Jack O’Neil, a freshman with an undecided major from Mobile, Alabama. “I came up a few times in the Fall and had a really good time, so I was like, ‘Well, why not?’  

“I just want to meet people, have connections, people I know, people I can talk to on a daily basis.” 

While the social life aspect is a major part of this interest in networking, he also said he’s looking to the future, hoping the people he can meet here will help him get a leg up in his career later. 

“I think knowing more people can help a lot, especially with getting jobs in the future,” O’Neil said. “I know a bunch of jobs that I had in high school, in which I didn't know of people, but my dad knew a bunch of people and he was able to get me jobs from that.  

“So, I mean, obviously, I want to have the same opportunities to know people who can help me get jobs if I need it in the future.” 

At the end of the event, the new students and their families were treated to lunch, welcoming them to the community that drew them to Troy University.