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Student Highlights

Outstanding GEW Student of the Month

May 2015 - Haley Driscoll

Picture of Haley Driscoll
Interview with Haley Driscoll, GEW student in Professor Colleen Stricker’s class, conducted by Professor Ray Morris.

What are your interests, Haley?

I love math and science, camping, spending time with family.

What do you like most about CSUSM?

The people here are so friendly, and it’s such a beautiful campus. In addition, I’ve had good experiences with all my professors.

What do you think is your reason for your success in school, and in GEW, in particular?

When I devote my time to homework, studying, and preparing for class, I try not to allow any distractions. I realize procrastination is probably my biggest enemy, so if I don’t procrastinate, then I don’t have to rush. By not procrastinating, I only have to worry about my second-biggest enemy: distractions.

What’s the best piece of advice you can give students?

Schedule your time. In other words, make time for schoolwork, instead of doing it when you have time. If you wait until you have time, chances are that time will be filled with all the other things you didn’t previously have time for.

Excellent advice. What do you like about GEW?

Well, I like the fact that I can usually choose my own topic, something I’m interested in. I’m more interested in math, though, so I don’t really enjoy writing. I do like, however, the fact that my professor, Professor Stricker, gives us constructive feedback that informs us what we’re doing wrong with our current assignment, so we know better how we can improve the next one. 

Even though you say you’re not interested in writing, do you see any benefits of taking GEW? Do you see how it can possibly assist you in a math-oriented career?

Of course. By taking a course like GEW, I am learning to communicate and to be clear with whatever I communicate. This can apply to any job. Plus, I am learning to think critically. In Statistics class, for example, I can study statistics and critically assess the data that make up the results, looking at ways the data was put together, and determining if a bias exists in accumulating the data. Because, you never know, maybe some important stuff had been left out that could slant the results.

One last question: what do you like to read?

I really like books from Nicholas Sparks. He writes romances.

Interesting. Some people might think that a person who reads romances won’t learn anything from them. What do you think? Do you learn anything from romances?

Any kind of reading can build a person’s vocabulary, and I’m always amazed how he [Sparks] puts together his stories. His ideas, and how he formulates them to create an interesting story, teaches me to be more creative with my own ideas that I write about in GEW.     

Thank you, Haley. It’s been a pleasure talking with you and sharing your experiences in college. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

No, that’s it.