Walking Through Doors of Opportunity – Wynter Henderson

“I feel people say this a lot, but I fell in love with Meredith College and its atmosphere. At an Admissions Open House, I met so many amazing people and could feel the support around me. I had lost my brother the previous summer and was trying to figure out if I wanted to take a leap and move out of state for college or stay. Meredith was the best fit for me at the time and I wouldn’t take this decision back. 

I was able to apply myself in my courses because of the small class sizes that allowed me to be known by my professors and create important relationships. 

My relationships on campus have made me more confident to speak up, able to voice my opinion, and generally made me more comfortable to apply myself outside of the classroom. I am more confident, well-spoken, and outgoing compared to when I came in. I think it’s a combination of having a great support system at school, and also figuring out who I am. 

I took an introductory psychology course at NC Central University as a student at Josephine Dobbs Early College High School and I fell in love with the subject. I’ve been able to apply what I learned in my internships in my major and vice versa. It’s important to acknowledge that Meredith opened these doors of opportunity for me. I wouldn’t have gotten my first internship without the help of Dr. Edwards. 

I’ve learned that I’m more capable than I thought I was. I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I’ve gotten myself through college as a first-generation student and that’s kind of a big deal. There was a point where I was working two jobs in order to pay for tuition. This is the reality for a lot of students. It was a rough semester, but I managed to maintain my grades (though I did get my first college B). Through this, I learned my limits, but also learned great time management skills. 

I’m currently applying to graduate programs for mental health counseling, but my ultimate goal is to be a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and to work with women of color. My greatest strengths are individualization and connectedness; through this, I find that I love working and learning about individuals and aspects of intersectionality, while also focusing on how our differences connect us in unique ways.

I feel more optimistic about life and what’s next for me. I think it’s because college has allowed me to grow into the person I desire to be every day. I’m not the same person as I was freshman year. I am grateful for the woman I’m becoming.”