Hometown: West Plains, MO
Currently Resides: West Plains, MO
Degree Received: Associate Arts in General Studies: MSU-WP
“Missouri State University-West Plains was a great experience that included a nice atmosphere, a useful array of resources for learning and exceptional teachers.”
Like many new students, Samson Hershenson chose Missouri State-West Plains with a specific goal in mind. The Early Degree Program allowed him to complete his Associate of Arts in General Studies degree while wrapping up his education at West Plains High School. “I felt it would be a great way to speed up my education process, so I went through the necessary tests to get into the program,” Samson said. “I have not regretted that decision once since then.”
Attending MSU-WP came with additional benefits beyond the Early Degree Program and its challenging curriculum, Samson said.
“The greatest impact Missouri State-West Plains has had on me is the personal responsibility that it taught me. I never took high school very seriously, especially since I knew I could get good grades at school without having to try hard,” Samson said.
As a college student, Samson learned to study for tests and discovered that completing homework and projects were key to understanding the material. “I have grown far more responsible with my time in dealing with school, and in turn have gained a plethora of knowledge in the process,” he said.
Sometimes Samson would study and pick up new skills just because they were available.
“The Lybyer Technology Center was extremely useful, since its computers have nearly every application you will need for a class. It has all of the Windows’ programs, the Adobe programs, and several others,” he said. “It’s great to use not only for classes, but also as a way for you to learn basic applications, like Photoshop, without having to pay the large price yourself.”
“The teachers at this university are great for complimenting hard work, and it would always incentivize me to continue to work hard.”
For Samson, overcoming challenges and focusing on his interests went together. He learned more from his professors than he did just from textbooks, he said, and he credited his greatest academic achievements as the times he was personally commended by his instructors.
“I have taken three semesters of classes from both Dr. (Jason) McCollom and Dr. (Kathleen) Morrison, who taught history and government, respectively,” he said. “They were both exceptional.” Not only did he learn a lot from their classes, their enthusiasm for the material made him even more passionate about those subjects. “If anyone is considering going to Missouri State-West Plains and is interested in either history or government, then I cannot recommend enough that you take the classes of these two teachers as soon as possible,” Samson said.
He currently plans to apply his love of government as a transfer student at Missouri State in Springfield. His new goal is to complete his bachelor’s degree requirements and then continue on to law school.