Planning is Gaynor’s key to success
Dec 17, 2024Meleah Gaynor is a planner. It’s a necessity, in order to keep up with her schoolwork at Rockingham Community College.
“You need to plan so you don’t get behind. When I was homeschooled, my [assignment] due dates were flexible,” she said. But college is different. “Last semester I procrastinated, but I got way better about that this semester.”
In her second year working toward an Associate in Arts degree, Gaynor sits down and previews each week as it begins.
“I plan out my week every Monday. I look at all my assignments and make a plan for every day for what I am working on. I set aside time for my assignments, like an hour for accounting,” she said.
When she’s in class, Gaynor handwrites her notes rather than typing them.
“I’m a kinesthetic learner, and I highlight things in different colors,” she said.
And her efforts are clearly paying off, as she holds a 4.0 grade-point average.
Her two favorite classes have been Drawing I and Personal Health and Wellness.
“I loved Health 110. We learned about physical health and mental health. We had some class time and went to the gym do some of what we learned about muscles and exercises,” Gaynor said.
Her ART 131 class was taught by her favorite instructor, Fine Arts Assistant Professor Kirsten Sadler.
“I really enjoyed her teaching style. I was nervous because I had never had any of my art graded, but she graded fairly,” Gaynor said. “When I had a question, she explained it well, and when I was getting behind on my projects, she had grace.”
Gaynor lives in Oak Ridge, and her commute to RCC was about the same as it would have been to Guilford Technical Community College.
“I chose RCC because it’s a smaller community college. I thought the parking would be easier, and there were smaller class settings,” she said.
During her second semester here in spring 2024, she started working on a career path.
“I looked into a lot of different majors. I want to do something creative,” she said. “I want to go into digital marketing – it has a good job outlook.”
By the time the fall semester rolled around, Gaynor found herself elected president of the Student Government Association.
“It’s been an adjustment. I had to learn how to delegate because I didn’t want to have to do everything myself. Communication is key. We have group chats and send out reminders,” she said.
“I don’t see myself leading a lot… I’m an introvert. I have to take control, but let everyone have ideas and brainstorm,” Gaynor continued. “But I’ve enjoyed it and it’s making me be better at leadership.”
As SGA president, she also serves as the student liaison on the RCC Board of Trustees, and gives a report on the SGA’s activities at the board meetings every other month.
Gaynor praises RCC for having so many opportunities for students to become involved in clubs, and encourages students to not be scared to join them.
“A lot of people do not know how many things go on at a community college,” she said.
Gaynor will continue her involvement with the SGA, and plans to transfer to UNC-Greensboro when she graduates, to pursue a four-year degree.
~By Gerri Hunt, RCC Director of Public Information
