“My Meredith experience has helped me to believe that I can achieve any goal that I set for myself. Meredith College provided me with an education that honed my analytical skills…showed me that my career choice of public service is a noble one and gave me a skill set to excel at it.

What I value most about my Meredith education is the relationships I have created with my friends and my professors in the political science department. The professors’ open door policy creates a supportive and enriching environment that creates a loyal and expressive student body. My friends are some of the most amazing and outspoken women I have ever met and I treasure them all.”

Julia Leggett, ’06

Hometown: Floral City, Fla.

Major: Political Science

Activities: College Democrats president, Disability Student Organization president, Senate, Silver Shield, History and Politics Club, WINGS. Completed leadership training with The White House Project Candidate Training and the Gallaudet University-Deaf Women’s Leadership Institute.

Accomplishments: “I think I am most proud to have been selected by peers to be inducted into Silver Shield. To have my leadership skills honored by people who I respect was an overwhelming feeling. Meredith College has given me many opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom to learn leadership skills that increase my ability to be successful in all that I do in life.”

Why Meredith? After completing the Deaf Studies Certificate Program at Wilson Technical Community College, Leggett wanted to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in political science.

“It only took me 10 minutes during open house to realize Meredith College was the place for me. It met all of my personal requirements and the interaction with the faculty, specifically Dr. Michael Novak, on that first day convinced me that I would find a superior and challenging academic environment at this college.”

Plans: A professional internship working on disability rights activism in North Carolina. “I will be doing legislative tracking and assisting with a new American Sign Language bill that will be working its way through the state legislature during the long session. I have also applied to [Washington, D.C.’s] Gallaudet University graduate school, where I hope to earn a Master’s degree in deaf studies with a focus on cultural studies.”