"I'm a first-generation college student. In my hometown, education is not a valued thing; many of us don't finish high school. To be where I am now, looking at the path to a PhD, is something I never could have imagined. I didn't know that education would become such a large part of my life, but I'm incredibly thankful it has. I'm proud of who I am and of how hard I worked to get here."
Corrin Baker
2020-2021 Recipient of The Robyn Fishelberg Memorial Scholarship
Why did you choose to attend UAlbany?
There was a real sense of school pride and community that was lacking at other schools I considered. I wanted to feel like I was a part of something bigger than myself, where every individual was valued and lifted, and UAlbany offered that to me.
What do you love best about UAlbany?
The thing I love best is UAlbany’s Transfer community. Especially my supervisor Darlene Poirier, who has in so many ways helped me develop as a professional and a student. Transfer students have a way of finding each other and sticking together here, it's nice to have a sort of family like that.
What does this scholarship mean to you?
This scholarship allowed me to continue school full-time when otherwise I had to consider dropping to part-time and working to pay for my education. I'm a student at heart, and all I want to do is focus myself fully on my studies. This scholarship has enabled me to do so! I'm participating as fully as I possibly can this semester and engaging in new opportunities, such as becoming a TA on top of my own work as a student and Transfer Transition Leader. It's allowing me to meet my goal of graduating this May with my Bachelor's Degree, which I could not be more thankful for.
What are your plans after graduation?
After UAlbany, I will be continuing my education to get a Master's Degree in English so that I may become a professor. My goal is to obtain this degree, and then work at a community college while I pursue a PhD. I'm thrilled to know that education will forever be a part of who I am and what I do, and I'm even more thrilled to one day be in a position to share my love of learning with my own students.
Share one thing about yourself that you would like your scholarship donor to know.
I'm a first-generation college student. In my hometown, education is not a valued thing; many of us don't finish high school. To be where I am now, looking at the path to a PhD, is something I never could have imagined. I didn't know that education would become such a large part of my life, but I'm incredibly thankful it has. I'm proud of who I am and of how hard I worked to get here.