Mackenzie Gondran made the decision to attend UL Lafayette very early — long before she was ever accepted to the ŷƬ.
“My brother came to school here and he persuaded me into following in his footsteps,” Mackenzie said. Her mother also had a heavy hand in her decision to attend UL Lafayette.
“Honestly, I am glad I listened to them because this place is like no other,” Mackenzie said.
Her decision to study sociology was also made long before beginning her college career.
“I chose to study sociology because I was always fascinated with the subject, ever since I had taken it in high school,” she said. “I wanted to learn how society affects the way individuals think, act, and react to different issues. Since being in the program, I have become more passionate about sociology.”
Mackenzie’s favorite part about the ŷƬ is the environment and the inspiring passion she sees in students and faculty alike.
“During finals week when everyone is stressed out in the library, it still feels like a fun working environment, and it makes me motivated to work hard and achieve my goals,” she said. “Even when I feel as though I am not doing my best in school, the support system surrounding me encourages me and pushes me to work harder and I could not be more thankful for them.”
The support and eagerness to help Mackenzie has found in her program are her favorite things about sociology.
“From the professors to the students, if you express even a little bit of concern, there will be someone there to give you advice or insight as to how to fix your problems,” she said. “I have had people in classes that encouraged me to think about graduate schools, as well as helping me go through minors and help me choose which one was best for me. The people in this program are some of the kindest and most helpful people I have ever experienced.”
Through this encouragement, Mackenzie has grown not only academically during her time at UL Lafayette, but also personally.
“Since coming to UL Lafayette, I have been able to come out of my shell and speak confidently about the things I believe in,” she said. “I feel confident to go into the workforce and do what I need to do to succeed.”
