May 6, 2020 | The Clarion
Arts & Life
Page 7
Katie McBriar to
graduate this spring
By Eleanor Flannery
Sports Editor
Katie McBriar is a senior at Brevard
College, majoring in integrated studies with
an emphasis in business and organizational
leadership and English. She is also minoring
in creative writing. McBriar is graduating
in spring of 2020, and due to developments
concerning COVID-19, she is set to walk
across the graduation stage and be honored
in the fall.
McBriar chose Brevard College as her
place of study with influence from her sister,
BC alumna, Amanda Butler. “My sister was a
huge influence on why I decided to come to
Brevard College.” McBriar said. She was also
interested in Brevard’s experiential education
philosophy. “I also chose Brevard for the
experiential learning; I really appreciate the
hands-on dynamic within the classrooms and
the small student-to-professor ratio.”
During her time at Brevard College,
McBriar has been quite active on campus
with student engagement at BC Life, and
assisting in the classroom and tutoring her
fellow classmates. She was the president of
BC Serves for two years, and president of
CAB for three. “I have been involved in BC
Serves, as well as Campus Activities Board,”
she said. “I was a tutor for two years and a
teaching assistant for three years in English
111 courses.” McBriar is also a student
leader, and a hall programmer for Green and
Stanback, helping mn many programs to keep
students busy with fun activities.
When McBriar was a freshman, she was
recognized by the college with the highest
GPA in the BORG program. She was also
awarded with sophomore of the year in
2017 and received a few awards within the
humanities department. As a senior, she was
awarded with Excellence in Environmental
Literature from the humanities division as
well.
She has some words of advice and
experience she wants to pass on. “The biggest
advice that I can give anyone coming into
college, or going into their second year, or
really anyone, would be to just be yourself,”
said McBriar. “No matter how hard you try,
there will always be people who try and bring
you down, but just know that being you is
enough. That’s something that I am working
towards every day and something that Brevard
has definitely helped me understand.”
McBriar has great plans after she graduates,
including working at her local hospital before
continuing on to earn her master’s degree.
“After graduation I am planning to get a job at
the local hospital for a few years, until I save up
enough money to go to grad school and get my
masters in Speech Pathology,” McBriar said.
“My ultimate goal is to be a speech pathologist
in a school atmosphere, or in a hospital.”
She also wants to remind students to enjoy
their time in college and to stay motivated
while on campus. “Something that took me
a while to grasp is that time goes fast,” she
said. “I didn’t believe it in high school, and
I didn’t believe it the past three and a half
years, but with graduation fast approaching,
it’s all I’m thinking about. Do not take
anything for granted because it goes by fast.
Stay positive and always put yourself first.”
Katie McBriar