Hello! My name is Carley, I am an enthusiastic Biology major and active campus community member seeking to deliver engaging, informative campus tours that welcome prospective families and highlight authentic student experiences. I was sitting right where you are not too long ago, so my main goal is to answer your real questions, show you what daily life here actually looks like, and make sure you leave with a clear picture of what makes our community home.

Hometown

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Major(s)

Biology

Clubs, organizations & involvement

I am extremely focused on my education, sadly when there is an extreme focus on education that makes joining clubs difficult. I’ve researched clubs here and I think they are all wonderful, if i ever have the time to do so, I would join the aqua league. The aqua league is a club focused around scuba diving and travel. They also participate in local environmental conservation efforts. It sounds wonderful and like a fantastic way to spend time with people and help the environment. That is just one of many clubs coastal carolina has to offer.

Describe your college experience

I originally thought that I wouldn’t go to college and I would just stay in the workforce. I had already been working since I was 13 years old. I decided that I wanted to become a dentist and so that made college mandatory. I am extremely happy I decided to go to college. I am so thankful I get to learn new things every day from my fantastic professors. There are frequent events at coastal, which are all very interesting and fun. students and professors here at coastal are extremely nice and helpful and really make the college experience that much better. Coastal is a clean environment with pathways to college buildings that are very easy to understand and navigate. i’ve only been here a few weeks, but I’ve already learned so many things about myself, my peers, and the future of all of us. Its amazing seeing so many passionate and motivated people on so many different life paths. Overall Coastal is a fantastic college with many great people in it, I am extremely grateful to be able to attend.

Tip for future students

My tips would drastically vary for different majors but things I would recommend would be: - study as much as possible but don’t let it overtake your life. Keep your grades up but also spend some time with other people, your mental health will thank you for it. - Professors are people too, respect them and they will respect you. They want you to succeed and will do anything to help you out so don’t be afraid to ask questions no matter how silly you think they may be. - keep a calendar, it is extremely easy to forget things when your life becomes that of a busy college student. Your best friend will be a calendar whether that be a physical book or an app on your phone. - have fun, but don’t get yourself into trouble. The last thing anyone wants is to be kicked out of school. Before you do anything iffy, always think of potential consequences - If you have time to join a club, Join a club. They are fantastic for networking and making new friends. Some clubs will also look good on a resume. - The last thing I would say is do not stress yourself out. Stress kills, don’t overthink college because it’s not as hard as you think.

Favorite class

I love math, being able to calculate everyday life using graphs is extremely interesting to me.

Career goals

I would love to become an orthodontist. I plan on hopefully attending dental school either in Charleston South Carolina or Denver, Colorado. I love teeth and helping people. Dental work is one of the most expensive parts of healthcare. I plan on becoming a successful orthodontist and running a sort of charity every few months or so to offer free dental work for people in need. I love helping people. Nothing feels better than knowing you helped someone. Seeing the happiness in the face of a person who gets their confidence back is one of the purest joys in the world.

Ideal way to spend a free night

Usually when I am free I spend my time with my family and​/​or studying for classes. Once every few weeks I love to go out with friends or family to get brunch or dinner. Family and friends are the most important things in life, so that is my ideal day.

High school or secondary school

North Myrtle Beach high school

Favorite spot on campus

My favorite spot would be the kimbel and thompson libraries when its hot outside. When the weather gets cooler i plan to spend more time outside sitting on some of the benches. There is a fantastic view from many benches. For example on prince lawn you can sit on a bench looking at the pond with the big aerating fountains. If you look closely at the pond you will see many adorable turtles! I always take a peek at them when i cross the bridge. Seeing the turtles sunbathing makes my day so much brighter.