Siler Ready to Meet Future as USM Readies for In-Person Graduation Ceremonies
Thu, 04/29/2021 - 02:45pm | By: David Tisdale
Stay focused, but also find joy in the quest for knowledge and your degree.
That鈥檚 the advice graduating senior Camryn Siler has for those students coming behind her, as she plots her next moves after graduating from The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) next week. The university is preparing to hold multiple commencement ceremonies May 3-8, the first in-person graduation events since the Covid-19 pandemic.
鈥淵ou generally walk into your classes with the mindset of focusing on what you have to learn in order to pass, but take the time to really get into what your professor is teaching,鈥� said Siler, a native of Crestview, Florida. 鈥淎ny time you鈥檙e enjoying something, it comes easier to you, so learn to make the best of what you鈥檙e given.鈥�
And Siler has done just that during her time in Hattiesburg. A biological sciences major with an emphasis in biomedicine and minors in chemistry and biochemistry, she aspires to attend medical school. An Academic Excellence Scholar and a Jump Scholar, Siler earned the Scholastic Excellence Award on multiple occasions, President鈥檚 List status and is a member of USM鈥檚 National Society of Leadership Success.
Her USM roots run deep, as both of her parents and siblings attended the university, 鈥渟o I grew up around the campus,鈥� she said. Her father, Kenny Siler, helped lead the Golden Eagles men鈥檚 basketball team to the 1987 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship.
Siler said being a student employee with USM Campus Recreation since she first started at USM 鈥渨as one of the first ways I became exposed to the USM culture, and it helped me get to know lots of people and make so many good friends.鈥� Other highlights of her USM experience include those where she 鈥渓earned something while having fun, too,鈥� including her job shadowing experience with Dr. Melissa Roberts, director of the USM Moffitt Student Health Center.
鈥淚 learned [from Dr. Roberts] that being a doctor is more than poking and prodding people and filling out the paperwork to go with it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t constitutes using your personality to make someone comfortable enough to even continue with their appointment, and gaining their trust in order for them to follow doctor鈥檚 orders.鈥�
She also praised her academic advisor, Dr. Janet Donaldson, for helping guide her through some challenges along the way, and also being there to help celebrate the high points.
鈥淒r. 鈥楧鈥� has been nothing but a blessing to me,鈥� Siler said.
Siler鈥檚 plans following graduation include pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in biomedical sciences at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas, and then later applying to medical school; after medical school and residency, she鈥檇 like to work in an outpatient center or hospital as an anesthesiologist.
鈥淐amryn was an absolute delight to have as one of my advisees,鈥� Dr. Donaldson said. 鈥淪he was always diligent about her work and such a pleasure to just talk to about school and her career ambitions. She is so sweet and so smart; I have no doubt she will be successful in whichever path life takes her.鈥�
In reflecting on the last year and the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on her academic
experience and in all other aspects of life, Siler says the experience taught her
to look within for motivation.
鈥淚鈥檓 so used to having a huge support system that I forgot I have to want these things
in life just as much as they want them for me,鈥� Siler said. 鈥淪o now I鈥檓 very excited
about the opportunity to be walking across that stage, and really couldn鈥檛 imagine
the ceremony being strictly virtual. We have all worked hard to make this happen and
I think we all deserve a big congratulations for that.
鈥淚鈥檓 also excited to be sharing this moment with last semester鈥檚 graduates. The more
the merrier!鈥�
For details about the USM鈥檚 spring 2021 commencement ceremonies, visit /registrar/commencement.php.