“I highly value the global nature of the education I have received at Meredith College. I feel that I am prepared to go out into a world that is becoming more interconnected everyday because not only am I competent in a foreign language, but I also have an understanding of how I relate to the world and how the world relates to me.  I now see how situations all around the world matter to me, and not just those occurring in my community or affecting my life immediately.

My Meredith experience has helped me to reach my goals in that through completing my history major and my teaching licensure program, I feel completely confident about walking into a classroom and teaching my subject area.  I realize that my first year of teaching is going to be very difficult, but I feel prepared enough as a result of my Meredith experience to handle the job.”

-- Leslie Harris, ’07

Hometown: Whiteville, N.C.                                

Degree: Bachelor of Arts in History, with a minor in Political Science and a secondary social studies teaching licensure (Grades 9-12)

Favorite Thing About Meredith: Being a part of the History and Politics Department. “I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the amazing professors of the department over the past four years and sitting through their classes, no matter how early or how long, as well as getting to know my fellow majors. My other favorite aspect of my Meredith experience has been finding friends that truly mean a lot to me and getting to carry on Meredith traditions with them.”

Why Meredith? “I chose to attend Meredith because I was a finalist for the N.C. Teaching Fellows program for which Meredith has a great reputation and because I wanted to attend a small, private college.  After seeing that Meredith could give me the best of both worlds and after coming to the campus, I finally realized that I belonged at Meredith.”

Activities: N.C. Teaching Fellows, Honors Program, Silver Shield, Kappa Nu Sigma, Resident Assistant, Phi Alpha Theta, Learning Center tutor, History and Politics Club, Model United Nations, Elections Board and CORE 100 Reflection Leader.

Accomplishments: Completed an Honors Thesis that explored the roles that the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas plays in Palestinian society; Meredith Study Abroad in Italy and Switzerland.

Plans: “I plan to go back to the southeast region of North Carolina and teach high school social studies. Once I've taught for a year or two, I plan to enroll in UNC-Wilmington or UNC-Pembroke to get a Master of Arts in social studies education.”