Gator Bites
‘Gator Bites’ gives an authentic, inside look into Lamar State College Orange, dedicated to elevating Gator voices, spotlighting campus life, and fostering meaningful conversations that connect, inform, and inspire the Gator community. Through engaging interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and real talk about college life, we aim to build a stronger, more connected campus culture.
Gator Bites
S1: E29 | More Than a Degree: The LSCO Graduate Experience
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In this special graduation edition of Gator Bites, LSCO graduates Zoey Royer, HeavenLeigh Hughes, Lucia Liu, and Reid Burman reflect on the experiences that shaped their college journey and prepared them for what comes next.
From balancing jobs, leadership roles and demanding coursework to finding friendship, confidence and community, these students share honest conversations about growth, perseverance and discovering new passions along the way. They discuss how LSCO helped them develop professional skills, leadership experience and the support systems that made a lasting impact on their lives.
As commencement approaches, the group looks ahead to transfer plans, future careers and the goals they hope to accomplish in the years ahead while carrying their orange pride with them into the future.
About Lamar State College Orange:
Lamar State College Orange (LSCO) is a two-year, state-supported institution located on the banks of the Sabine River in Orange, Texas. As part of the Texas State University System, LSCO is committed to transforming lives and communities through the continual pursuit of academic, professional, and personal excellence. Serving more than 5,500 students, the College offers associate degrees and certificates in academic, technical, and workforce fields, providing new and unique opportunities for growth and success. With a focus on accessibility, affordability, and innovation, LSCO serves a diverse student population, including a high percentage of first-generation college students. Through strong community partnerships, dedicated faculty and staff, and innovative student support services, LSCO is the bridge connecting those it serves to a bright, Orange future.
Hello everyone and welcome back to Gator Bytes, the official podcast of Lamar State College Orange, where we interview faculty, staff, and students to give the community an inside look into life here at LSCO. On this episode, we're talking to some of our graduates about their time here at LSCO as we gear up for commencement later this week. I'm going to start with introducing from my left. We're joined with, I'm Heavenly Hughes.
SPEAKER_02I'm a first generation college student. I'm graduating this May, obviously, with my general studies certificate a year early.
SPEAKER_04Hi, my name is Lucia Liu. I'm a first-gen dual credit student here at LSCO. I'll be graduating with my associate's degree in pre-professional health science.
SPEAKER_01Hello, everybody. I'm Reed Berman and I'm also getting my general studies degree. I did two call two years of college and one year here at Lamore, and I'm transferring to Texas State.
SPEAKER_03And I am Zoe Rower. I am a first generation college student, and I'll be graduating this May with my business associates. All right. So today we'll just be asking a couple questions just so you can uh get a little bit more familiar of what it's like being a student here at LSEO and our time that we've had. Um so I'm just gonna start and anybody can answer the first question. Uh what drew you to LSEO and was it a part of your plan?
SPEAKER_01Um I'll answer this question. LSCO was not in my plan at all, but after some financial like um logistics with my family and everything, they thought it'd be my best interest to go here. And I was a little upset because I didn't get to have like the traditional college experience first year after out of high school, but I'm very grateful because it gave me time to mature, build the develop good study habits and meet new people over here and have a calm first two years of college so I can have a nice professional last two years of college at Texas State. So what drew me to LLCO is honestly my parents making me, but I'm so happy they did because I've had the best time here.
SPEAKER_03Awesome. Thank you, Reed. Anyone else would like to answer that one?
SPEAKER_02Kind of similar. LSCO was not part of my plan literally at all. I knew I took dual credit classes there in high school. Um, but my counselor was like, hey, you're low-key kind of broke. Um there's a cool scholarship. Do you want to do this? I was like, yeah, sure, I'll apply. Got it. It was fantastic. My first year was paid for. Um and I couldn't be more grateful because I've made like really good friends here. I have like a good community, and it's definitely a lot easier to get along with smaller classes than it would be to get along with like a 200 plus class at like Maine Lamar or something, which I'm going to next year next year.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it's definitely more intimate. And what about you, Lucia?
SPEAKER_04So what drew me to LSEO, like Reed and Heavenly said, it was not originally part of the plan, but it was a dual credit opportunity. And I'm so glad I came because along with getting a head start to college, I got to meet some of my closest friends and I found my family here at LSEO.
SPEAKER_03Awesome. And I'm gonna answer this one myself. Honestly, what drew me to LSEO, um, I didn't think I was going to go to college at first. Um looking at the just time I was in my life, um, I was struggling with homelessness. So um I didn't really think I would make it to college, but my high school counselor, she told me about Lamont Orange and the opportunities uh that they had and how affordable it was. So it was about two weeks before I graduated high school. I came to Lamont Orange and I went to the advising and they were very helpful. Financial aid was super helpful, just helping me figure out everything. So um what I would say is just the I guess willingness they were to help me and guide me through the steps it was to they like genuinely care here. They genuinely care. They took my hand and they guided me for sure. Um so that's what brought me to LSCO. It was just so basically none of us planned it.
SPEAKER_02It just kind of happened. So woo! Very good. For sure. Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_01Well, was there any was there any classes here that stood out to any of y'all that like y'all just loved while y'all were at Lamar?
SPEAKER_02Honestly, my anatomy class, I thought I was gonna hate it. My anatomy one was like we were good. I made an A plus in that class. My anatomy two, I'm absolutely in love with, and it's making me question my athletic training major. Like I'm thinking genuinely about like heart surgeon, like stuff like that, because I'm just like so interested in it now. And I it's weird because I thought I was gonna hate it. Yeah, that's cool, that's good. Love, love, love, love.
SPEAKER_04I think for me, honestly, I can't pick favorites, but to name two were my first two in-person classes. It was biology and chemistry, and those two classes were classes that I knew I would have to take, but I didn't know if I would enjoy. I truly enjoyed it. I developed a greater interest in both subjects, and I met some of my closest friends through those classes. And some great professors too. Shout out to Dr. McClure and Dr. Lundquist. Real.
SPEAKER_03Well, honestly, I would just like to give a shout out to the first um like incoming freshman class that we all have to take is Learning Framework. Um, Dr. Slaughter, the professor who teaches it, she definitely opened my eyes into what was available to me or for me at LSEO. Um student government. I wouldn't have known about Bible study, just joining different student organizations without that class, or just um about the resources that we have, like timely care and like the food pantry, clothing closet, all of those things I wouldn't have known unless it was for that class. So that was very helpful, and it was a class that definitely stood out to me while I was here.
SPEAKER_01Well, I think my favorite professor here at LSCO, I had a couple classes with this person, was Azaria Tyson. Ms. Tyson is the goat. I just loved her class and loved her as a person, and she taught me a lot. And she very she really, really did and just loved it. I love that lady.
SPEAKER_03Yes, I agree. Miss Tyson was a great business teacher. Um so what's something you wish you knew earlier before the deadlines, the group projects, and the why did I sign up for this moments?
SPEAKER_01I would honestly have to say something I wish I knew earlier was that um when I was in high school taking dual world classes, that the effort I put in actually mattered to what I want to do in college. Because there's one or two classes I didn't take really seriously in high school as a dumb junior and senior that kind of affected what I was able to do three years three years from that, which is today, um being like transferring to colleges and applying for scholarships. Like if I had to say that point two, a little bit like a like a little bit stronger GPA if I was actually locked into high school, I would actually be doing a lot more. But still, I just I would say dual world classes do matter and you should try in this.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. Anybody else?
SPEAKER_02I think oh you got that girl.
SPEAKER_04Okay. I think it was for me, it was being proactive and like looking ahead of your schedule, scheduling out your deadlines and not waiting to the last minute. Um, another thing is I think just being willing to reach out, find yourself a good group of people early. Don't be shy.
SPEAKER_02So I think I would say like definitely don't think that you're ready for college. You're not as a high school student. You are not ready for college. Do not get that through your brain. I promise you, you're gonna get hit in the face when you get here, but it's gonna be worth it.
SPEAKER_03No, yeah, definitely try to find your support, whether that be a parent or just some figure in your life that could guide you through the steps. Um, because we can't, I know it's sometimes we like to say that we can do it all on our own, but we really do just need that support um in times like that. So I would say what I wish I knew before I came here was about the um I guess high school uh uh scholarships that were offered during senior year. Um some institutions they offer like full ride scholarships to graduating high school seniors, and I just didn't have the knowledge of those. Um so I wish I would have known that sooner, but I don't regret coming here because I saved a lot of money, honestly. I mean, outside of tuition and stuff.
SPEAKER_01So let me ask this real quick what skills or experiences from your involvement on campus do you think will help you most moving forward in the future?
SPEAKER_02I would say definitely like student orgs. Um everyone here right now that's graduating is literally a part of SGA. Like we all hold officer positions. Um it helps you realize that like you're studying to do something with your life, like it's literally for your job, and it helps you realize that you have to work with people and you have to like understand how each other's brain works to be able to actually do something collectively. So definitely like community and learning how to work off of other people for sure.
SPEAKER_01I want to say one of my most important things I learned being involved on campus and doing all these things is how to hold a professional conversation. Because in the past, I've like I would shut down and be awkward and I would not know how to answer a question, or I would say profanities and not like like not when I wasn't supposed to, but now that I'm older, it's a little bit easier to just be professional and hold a good conversation with uh the people here, you know. It's one of my favorite things I learned being involved.
SPEAKER_03Um I guess some of the things that I've learned, skills that I've learned was uh public speaking for sure. Um just from organizing meetings. Um I've hold I've held senator position, a secretary position, and then now currently I'm president of student government. So um really, yeah, like what Reed said was holding a professional conversation, having some decorum, um, and then just yeah, being organized and Word and learning how to use different softwares like Microsoft, uh Word and Outlook, how how to send an email, you know, like how to email it. How to even have an email signature so what you say looks professional on the website.
SPEAKER_02I still need to learn how to do that.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Um so definitely how I come off, um organize, um how prepared I am, and I would say um community involvement um just being an advocate for others is um something that I've also I guess gained while I'm here. Um it was something I was working on in high school as well, just being involved in volunteer service orgs, but here being a part of SGA and um FBLA and PTK, you have to work for your service hours and to stay in those clubs. So um yeah, definitely getting your face out there. I've learned that connections matter. Um networking and having a social media presence for sure.
SPEAKER_04I think I completely agree with everything they said. I don't know what more I could add. Um, for skills, it was definitely like Reed said, public speaking and then just being able to reach out to the community, getting to know the students, and then making sure to, if they express their needs, to be able to express that professionally to the faculty here and just try to work as the spokesperson between the mediator between the student and the staff here. Um another thing is just like they said, community. I feel like I was able to develop a lot more skills of just outreaching and being able to speak professionally. Finding those opportunities and just and taking the opportunities, not shying away, saying someone else would do it, but being proactive. Yes.
SPEAKER_01Well, do any of y'all here have a job?
SPEAKER_02I have five.
SPEAKER_01Oh girl. Well, besides us being students and some of us also having jobs, like what was the hardest thing to balance both of those?
SPEAKER_02Honestly, just like time in general. I'm a hybrid student, so I have technically two in-person classes, my anatomy lecture, and then my anatomy lab. Um I'm here every day for lecture, and then I'm obviously minus Friday, and then I'm here Tuesdays and Thursdays a little bit later, one till three for lab. So I obviously can't work a lot of morning shifts, but I'm off Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays. Sundays and Wednesdays are for church purposes, which I also volunteer at my church, which is basically a sixth job at this point. I never have a day off. I never have a day off. Um, and Mondays are kind of like my reset day, which is really weird because it's the beginning of the week. But I DoorDash every now and then for a little extra pocket change. I babysit. Um, and obviously throughout all of these, I'm studying or I'm listening to a lecture. Whenever I'm at Rock and Crab, which is my main job that I do throughout the week, I'm always on my phone, like studying for my next exam. I'll get ChatGPT to make me like a study guide and I'll just repeat that in my head 10 million times. I'll get it to make me a label chart. I'm telling you right now, ChatGPT is gonna be your best friend when it comes to studying. Put in a lecture video, put in your review, ask it to quiz you. It is fantastic. I'm a little old fashioned.
SPEAKER_01I love my Quizlet flashcards.
SPEAKER_02Quizlet's very helpful, but ChatGPT live quizzes, and I'm like really good whenever it comes to like pressured questions, which is why I think I like that so much. Yeah. But just figure out your time, figure out whenever like your exams are coming up, focus. Obviously, job's important, but your education's first because this is what's getting you ready for your actual job. Yes. Make sure you get those priorities figured out before you actually go into having a job versus being a student, because it is difficult. Very, very well said. What about you, Zoe?
SPEAKER_03Well, my first semester, whenever I came here, um, I was actually just a full-time student. I didn't have a job, but uh I didn't know what I wanted to do because I did want to make school a priority. I wanted to be involved on campus. I didn't know how I would juggle those uh while working full-time somewhere else. So um someone mentioned to me about federal work study, and now I'm a student worker. I actually started as an admin assistant in the academic building, but now I work as a HR assistant in the library. And I think it's cool because it also gives me experience. That's what I want to do. Um, I want to be human resource professional, well, aspiring. Um, that's what I want to go transfer for. But anyways.
SPEAKER_01Well, for me, like um, I'm a server, y'all. And heavenly knows because she works for rock and crab. Being a server, it tests your patience the most. Oh, for real. And the shifts are the longest. Like, I'll I'll go to I'll like I I'm online this semester, but I back back like last semester I was hybrid, so I would have my class and then go straight to work or vice versa. Um, but I do work like around 30 hours a week, and I only have like two days off a week. And on those two days off, I'm doing nothing but work on my computer.
SPEAKER_06Yeah.
SPEAKER_01But luckily with the online um Lamar here, like if I get off at 10, I'm a night owl, so I can do my work until about 11, 12 or 1, go to bed and be fine. But it's definitely a lot to figure out because I mean you when you're a college student and you work as well, you never have a said sleep schedule. You just sleep when you can and when it's convenient. So definitely a little sleep deprived, but I do do love being how even I am just how blessed are we to have a job and have an education. So that's one of my favorite things.
SPEAKER_04So for me, um, I do want to say that's a great way to look at it, how blessed we are, just to spin it, put a positive perspective on it. For me, I'm very lucky. I work as a waitress at my parents' restaurant. Shout out Chef Leo's Chadavistro, come see me. So um, working at my parents' restaurant, I do have a bit more of a flexible schedule. Last year I was a fully online student, so I would work and then I would go home and do my school work. This year's a little different. I'm a hybrid student. And it was kind of new because I had a schedule beforehand, but it was more flexible to where, oh, if I have to work an extra shift, I'll just push my online work later. Now I have a set time, I have to be here at one o'clock, I have to be here at 11 o'clock. So I think the main thing that helped me balance was looking ahead. And then people say blocking off your schedule. This time's for school, I gotta be here, this time's for work, and then always leave time for social life. I know like everyone says, oh, after school, you can enjoy your life, and that's true, but you're only young once. So make friends, make those connections because ultimately I do think that it helps you with your education. It pushes you to be better when you see your friends doing better. And I have some amazing friends here. Like you guys constantly inspire me to do better.
SPEAKER_02Friendly competitions also like Yes. I know that anytime I'm talking to any people in my anatomy class, I'm like, yo, what'd you make on this past test? And they're like, oh, I made a this versus I made this. And we have a little study group chat where we all compare grades and we're just like, you know what, next time I'm gonna help you do this. Like we're competing, but in a friendly way. Yeah. Just like make it fun. It's pretty cool.
SPEAKER_03Okay. Um moving on. If you could talk to your future self five years from now, what would you hope they could accomplish? They've accomplished.
SPEAKER_01So like right now, if I could talk to five years younger me. Five years older goal.
SPEAKER_03Five years from now.
SPEAKER_01Okay, I have selective hearing, I'm sorry. Um I would just hope that I achieved everything I wanted and I got my education and I'm working um in a field that serves me. I'm still quite unsure what I want to do with my future, but I hope that it's something that I do love and that does serve me mentally. So it's what I really hope that I get my education and I get what I want in life.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, definitely. I think for me, five years from now, I I hope I would have gotten my major in chemical engineering, and then hopefully I would be starting my first year of medical school. So, and then we'll see where we go from there.
SPEAKER_02Five years from now, I ain't got a clue. The only person who knows what I'm gonna be doing with my life is Jesus. I just gotta trust the plan, man. Because I could change 10 million things from here on out. And knowing me, I'm indecisive and I'm a Libra, so probably will happen.
SPEAKER_03But well, five years from now, I'd definitely see myself um hopefully graduated with my bachelor's already. I would hope because that would that would actually be a pain to turn a two-year degree into eight years. But um, anyways, I would probably say I'd hope that I would just whatever I'm doing, I hope that I'm happy doing it.
SPEAKER_01Um real.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, definitely that. I just would like to be happy.
SPEAKER_01Well, this next question I have for you, Zoe. Um, what impact do you hope you made here since you are, you know, the SGA president? Like, what's the lasting impact you want to have on this campus?
SPEAKER_03I hope um the impact that I've hope that I've made was I hope that people aren't afraid to speak their voice. I hope that they aren't afraid to find their passion, and I hope that they aren't afraid to do what is right when no one's looking. Um I think that it's very important to have integrity and I hope that I've inspired others to, you know, just whether it be just smiling someone, uh smiling at someone or holding the door for someone or just you know, just asking someone, how's it going today? Um it makes all the difference in the world. So I hope that I've um made that impact.
SPEAKER_01Okay. That's you.
SPEAKER_04I think for me, um the main thing is I I hope I made someone feel seen. I hope I made the students feel like they can speak up, they can share their opinion. Um I hope that I was able to walk in here every day and smile and make someone else smile with a good morning and had a good attitude. So brighten up this campus. Yes.
SPEAKER_00All right, so I'm gonna interrupt from here. Sounds like I've got it kind of covered, but what I want to do is I want to bring in one more little thing for y'all since y'all are graduating.
SPEAKER_05Do we have some LSEO graduates in the house? Congratulations, I'm so excited. We're so proud of you. Heavily, Lucia, Reed, and Zoe. Thank you all so much. Thank you for being the best ambassadors ever, and also for being great graduates. We're we're proud of y'all. Thank you. Thank you, thank you. Excited. So we have to do y'all want to tell you we're spoiled.
SPEAKER_02That is so funny. This is going in my new rental since I wrecked my car.
SPEAKER_06Thank you. Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_04We're spoiled, y'all.
SPEAKER_05Exactly. Thank you guys so much. Thank you. We're so proud of y'all.
SPEAKER_00All right, so Zoe, I'm gonna have you now close it out for us and read your last little sentence.
SPEAKER_03Alrighty. Thanks for listening to today's episode. Our gator grads are heading in all kinds of exciting directions, and no matter where they go, they'll always be a part of the gator community. Keep going, keep growing, and carry that orange pride with you into whatever comes next. Thanks for being here with us, and we'll see you around campus. Be sure to keep up with the latest Gator Bites podcasts podcast episodes on the LSCO website, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Thanks for tuning in and we look forward to bringing you another conversation soon.