The 2009 graduating class of Mississippi University for Women includes at least two outstanding students, who mastered the art of time management.
Graduating with a bachelor”s degree in psychology, Timothy Hopkins, 24, of Brooksville, plans to attend graduate school at the University of West Alabama and later work as a guidance counselor.
His biggest obstacle to earning his undergraduate degree also proved to be his biggest motivation.
“The death of both of my parents,” he responded when asked about the challenges he faced at MUW. “Me being an only child and losing both of my parents, that was the most challenging for me. My mom passed away in 2003 and my dad passed away in 2006.
“It was a sense of motivation,” he added of their deaths. “The last thing (my mom) said to me was, ”Graduate from college.” That was the biggest motivation, knowing that she wanted me to do this, as well as this is what I wanted to do.”
Hopkins said “leadership” and “being a part of five different organizations” are what he most enjoyed about his time at MUW.
He served as a president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council Inc., as a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., a member of the Increasing Minority Access to Graduate Education program, a member of United Harmony Gospel Ministries and a member of The MUW College Democrats.
“I managed my time well,” he explained. “My only advice is to keep a planner, to live by a planner.”
Loftie Davis, 23, of Ashland, also participated in the IMAGE program.
Graduating with a degree in business administration, with a marketing concentration, Davis currently works as an assistant manager at Walgreen”s in Southaven and plans to get a master”s in business administration from the University of Mississippi.
“I”ve always been interested in helping others, but I didn”t really have the desire to be a doctor and actually physically save people,” he said of his career plans to be “a director of public relations and fundraising for a hospital.”
“If I could work for (a large hospital like) St. Jude (Children”s Research Hospital) or Le Bonheur (Children”s Medical Center) and be able to do research and things like that, I”ll be able to touch lives indirectly,” he explained, noting his biggest challenge was deciding on a specific course of study and he previously majored in nursing and physical therapy before moving to business.
Davis served as vice president of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and as a member of the Hearin Leadership Council, the Black Leadership Alliance for College Students and the Business Student Advisory Board.
“Just finding a good balance and really just good time management,” he said of the key to his success. “And really, it didn”t seem so much as being too active, because everything they worked around my schedule. And classes weren”t so time consuming I wasn”t able to do anything. Everyone was so understanding and encouraged me to get involved. It didn”t seem like a chore, because I enjoyed doing it.
“I enjoyed the small campus and getting to know everyone on the campus and really feeling like I was part of the family,” he added of MUW. “You can interact with the faculty and classmates on a daily basis. They know your first name. It”s something I would encourage others to go and look at getting the opportunity to be on the W campus.”
His sister, Leanna Davis, currently is a junior student at MUW.
“To be successful, I would tell (students) to be open minded,” Loftie Davis said. “Enjoy your time at the school and my motto is live the dream!”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.