娜塔莎 Seymore: 首页 for the Holidays

Many will refer to 哥伦比亚大学 as a “home away from home,” but that sentiment holds true in a different way for graduating student 娜塔莎 Seymore. She grew up on 哥伦比亚大学 Drive, right next door to her grandmother and grandfather, former President of 哥伦比亚大学, Dr. 拉尔夫T. Mirse. 娜塔莎’s childhood, while peppered with star-studded introductions like Barbara Bush, 桑德拉·戴·奥康纳, and our very own Lucille Godbold was marked with the unique joy that came from being a child on a college campus. To hear her tell it, the campus was her playground. She has memories of (secretly) climbing the Christmas tree after picnicking under the beautifully lit branches during the Christmas season and spending weeks of the summer at camps held at Cottingham Theatre, 学习 how to speak clearly and articulately. She even obtained her first lifeguard certification in the Godbold Center.

Of all these memories that are etched on her heart, the memories that she holds most dear are the special days after school when her grandmother would agree to drop her off at her grandfather’s office. 娜塔莎 would watch him work until he needed a break. Then, she and “Grandaddy,” as she refers to him, would walk down to the Columns. It is there that she remembers so many conversations about Jesus, 火博体育, about anything or nothing, but mostly she remembers them just BEING together. They would stand in the center and he would say, “One day when you graduate, maybe this is where you will have your pictures made.” And now, close to 40 years later, those graduation pictures will, in fact, be made.

When it was time for her to choose a college to attend after high school, 娜塔莎 says she was determined to create her own space and go her own way, which initially led her away from the school that now calls her home for graduation. While 娜塔莎 wishes that she had gotten a true student experience, she is incredibly proud of what she has accomplished and she believes her grandfather is proud of her as well. 娜塔莎, a life-long healthcare professional, 妻子, and mother graduated in December with her master’s degree in 业务 Administration with a Concentration in Hospital Administration, 对她来说, this degree is about fulfilling a promise she made long ago. The 在线 MBA Program made fulfilling this promise a possibility for her at age 50, 住在克林顿, SC, while working full-time in Greenwood, SC, and managing a family. 娜塔莎 has had every reason NOT to fulfill the promise she made, but at the close of the semester, she received her diploma after maintaining nearly a 4.0 grade point average.

With a lifetime of memories growing, 学习, and changing within and without the 哥伦比亚大学 gates, 娜塔莎 carries endless lessons from her time on 哥伦比亚大学 Drive. 她的祖父, as a deeply involved member of the Eau Claire community, taught her the importance of teamwork and utilizing opportunities to move forward. These lessons push her forward even today, as she continues to chase her dreams the way she was always taught: ruthlessly, but with poise and humility. 在12月, 娜塔莎 became what she calls, “一个真正的校友,” as a part of a tradition and community unlike any other. 娜塔莎 Seymore, the Columns are calling you home.