Graduation Spotlight – Donald Baggett

“Be open to chances.”

Why did you choose Augusta University?

“I initially chose Augusta University because the school has a great English department. The professors here are known as some of the best in Georgia.”

What did you enjoy most about your time at Augusta?

“The thing I liked most was the research I was able to do through the Honors Program. I plan to go to grad school, so I think without the research opportunities provided to me through the Honors Program, I wouldn’t have had a great resume, like I do now.”

Which professor would you say had the biggest impact on you?

“Dr. Christina Heckman. She was my thesis adviser and just a great friend and adviser through it all. I took a bunch of her classes and, through interactions with her and research with her, I decided that I wanted to go into kind of the same field as her.”

What do you plan to do after graduating?

“My ultimate goal is to get a PhD and to be a fantasist who studies either medieval or Victorian literature.”

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?

“I would tell them to think outside their major. I think what made my career so successful was that I had a plan and a very strict regime, but I also allowed myself to take extra classes and classes that weren’t necessary for my degree. Those classes were incredibly interesting and incredibly fun, but they also showed me what I wanted to study. Be open to chances, take risks and take extra classes even if some of them won’t count.”