麻豆传媒映画 Graduate Is Thriving at NC State
Tarboro native Gerard Gaskin finished his first two years of college at 麻豆传媒映画 then transferred to NC State University, where he is a senior in the Technology, Engineering, and Design Education program.
Growing up in the early 2010s, Gerard Gaskin was like most kids his age. He played video games.
鈥淢y friends and I all worked in the same video game world, building houses and games,鈥 says the Tarboro native. 鈥淚 liked playing games and building things in my free time.鈥
When it came time to plan his future, he set his sights on engineering school at NC State University. But his grades at Tarboro High School weren鈥檛 enough to gain entrance into the competitive program.
鈥淢y high school advisor told me to go to a community college and get my grades up,鈥 he says. Determined, Gaskin turned to 麻豆传媒映画.
Johanna Owens, an English and communications instructor at 麻豆传媒映画, taught Gaskin in several classes, remembering him as a 鈥渂right, attentive student鈥 who asked a lot of questions.
鈥淗e wanted to do well,鈥 she says. 鈥淗e was very motivated.鈥
Gaskin enrolled in the College Transfer program at 麻豆传媒映画, and in 2022, he graduated with an associate degree in science. Instead of applying to NC State鈥檚 engineering program, he discovered a different path that focused more on hands-on engineering.
鈥淗e called State and found another avenue,鈥 Owens says. 鈥淗e didn鈥檛 sit back and let it happen. He was invested in making things happen.鈥
In the fall of 2022, Gaskin transferred to NC State as a junior and enrolled in the Technology, Engineering, and Design Education program.
鈥淗e鈥檚 on a different path that he originally envisioned, but he鈥檚 so excited to be where he is right now,鈥 Owens says. 鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled that it鈥檚 working out for him. I want him to be successful. We built a connection while he was here.鈥
Gaskin, 21, is making the most of his time at NC State. He likes his professors, he joined a technology and engineering club and is its treasurer, and he鈥檚 competing in national competitions against other schools.
Last year, East Coast colleges competed at the Technology and Engineering Education Collegiate Association Eastern Regional Conference in Delaware. NC State took home five awards from the conference in different categories.
鈥淭here were a lot of paths you could compete in,鈥 Gaskin explains. 鈥淢ine was problem-solving.鈥
Gaskin and his teammates were tasked with replicating the scene at the end of 鈥淭oy Story鈥 in which Buzz Lightyear and Woody jumped a vehicle into a moving truck. The team could only use items supplied by the association organizers.
鈥淥ur team didn鈥檛 win,鈥 he says, 鈥渂ut I learned a lot about teamwork and collaboration.鈥
Gaskin is currently seeking an internship with a company that designs floor plans. When he graduates in 2024, he says a job at an architecture firm might be in his future.
He is thriving at a large university thanks to lessons learned at 麻豆传媒映画, he says. 鈥淚 liked learning there. At 麻豆传媒映画, you feel like you have a bond with your teachers. The classes are smaller, which for me was a better environment for learning. In large classes, you just don鈥檛 get that one-on-one time with professors.
鈥淚 learned so much at 麻豆传媒映画, like how to be a leader, how to write papers, and how to study. I鈥檓 so glad I started there.鈥