I grew up in Cedar City, my dad worked on campus and I practiced swimming here for years. But all that paled in comparison to the relationships I knew I could make at SUU.
When I moved to Cedar City at 9 years old, I joined a club swim team that practiced at the SUU pool for three hours a day. During this time, I was able to interact with students and faculty.
I loved seeing students connect with each other and with me. They gave me a feeling of acceptance when I was on campus that made SUU feel like home. I saw how happy students looked when they walked by the pool and how my coaches interacted with them. It all made the campus feel very tight-knit.
The people working here make such a huge difference. I still feel as if I can talk to anyone working at SUU, and they want to hear what I have to say. They want to help me. They want to have a personal relationship with me.
In high school I did the concurrent enrollment program here at SUU, called Success Academy, allowing me to get my Associates degree when I graduated high school
From there, I was automatically accepted into SUU. When it came time to choose where I wanted to get my degree, I figured, “Why mess up a good thing? I already feel like I’m part of the culture here.”
I saw how professors acted on campus toward their students. It wasn’t just academic–it was a personal relationship only real friends could have. I knew I could have and wanted that kind of connection with my professors as well.
School has never been my thing, which made the professors a top priority. Knowing I’d have professors to talk to about anything was so comforting. I know someone will always be there for me.
Choosing SUU was one of the easiest choices I’ve ever made.
Story and Photos by: Cairo Cook
cairo.cook@suusuccess.org