What is your preferred name and major(s) and minor(s)?
My name is Roger Isom Jr. and I am a Exercise Science and Physical Education Major with a Spanish Minor and the Global Fellows Program.
What are some of the jobs you held at McDaniel?
I have worked as a Student Ambassador and a Peer Mentor. I have also worked for the Office of Student Engagement as an intern as well as for the Boys and Girls Club as a mentor.
What organizations were you part of at McDaniel?
These are some of the organizations I have been part of: Hispano-Latino Alliance, Black Student Union, Africa’s Legacy, Sankofa Mentor Program, McDaniel Intervarsity, Fitness Buddies, Rotaract, and 2016 Relay for Life.
Tell us more about your story at McDaniel. How much did you enjoy your time at McDaniel?
I enjoyed my time at McDaniel College to the fullest. Life on this Hill is what you make it. I had several colleges and universities that I could had received my deposit and four years of my life but I decided to choose McDaniel and more importantly I decided to stay. McDaniel isn’t a perfect school but which school out there is perfect? I took advantage of the academic and extracurricular opportunities available since my four years on this campus. Each experience on this Hill continues to shape who I am as I prepare to transition into the next phase of my life.
Who do you think is/was your best mentor(s)?
Dr. Beck Carpenter was my first college professor. She set the bar high for the rest of my professors to come during my time at McDaniel College. She cares about the individual of each student and I really appreciate that characteristic of her. Dr. Becky Allen and Dr. Steve McCole in the EPE department for their advice in shaping my professional goals within my field. Dr. Amy Nichols and Dr. Margaret A. Boudreaux for their endless support in transforming my college experience into a global experience.
What were some of the challenges you encountered and how did you overcome them?
The lost of my classmate and friend Justine Tinnin was the most difficult challenged I had encountered during my time at McDaniel College. She is the first peer that I lost who was around my age so the experience felt so unnatural. It is hard to process because she was so close to finishing her last minute assignments to graduate. I haven’t reached complete closure with the passing of Justine. But thinking of her gives me more reason to think positive and work hard with a gracious spirit for everything that I want to achieve in life.
What are your plans for after graduation?
In August, I will be attending George Washington University for my MPH in Physical Activity with a focus in Program Design and Evaluation.
What is your best memory at McDaniel? What is your worst memory at McDaniel?
One of my best and strongest memories at McDaniel College was attending the Spring Baltimore Urban Plunge in 2015 and 2016. During spring break, college students from Goucher College , Johns Hopkins, MICA, UMBC, and McDaniel come together to learn about God’s creation for a city, to understand the ramifications of social injustice, and to be part of His plans for restoration in the community. We also participate in a week full of volunteer service at different project sites within the Baltimore area. Many minority students on our Hill community are from Baltimore. Each day they juggle the rigor of academic life and also the harsh realities of the social injustice infiltrating their home. My BUP experience gave me a more comprehensive and full understanding of the adversity that students from Baltimore and other cities alike face on the regular. Furthermore, the experience taught me how to apply what I learned at McDaniel College as a resource to use in my new community after I leave the Hill.
Once I get through a “worst memory” I try to learn from it and then move on. Letting the bad times linger in your head only had stress to our lives and wrinkles to our faces. And honestly, I forget many of the few worst memories that I had on campus.
What advice can you give to those not graduating?
Do what you came here to do. If you came here to graduate (which I hope is your ultimate goal) then sit down and plan HOW you are actually going to do that. In addition to passing classes and establishing a strong network with professors, a lot of ensuring graduation boils down to proper planning. Proper planning takes time and time on campus is precious. Have fun and don’t get too lost into your studies. Find a balance between work and play so that when it is time for you to graduate you can say, “It have been on heck of a ride but it is not the right time to go.” Besides, not many people have time to pay for an extra semester of college…at least I didn’t.
Anything else you want to share with the world?
McDaniel, it has been a pleasure. I will always represent where I came from. To my friends and underclassmen feel free to reach out to me if you ever need anything. Ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough to keep me from getting to you! Just remember that and do your thing!
