The biggest impact the Mayfield-Dooley Scholarship has had on Rebecca came her second semester at Tarleton State. Dr. Mayfield, along with Dean Landaeta, got together with each Mayfield Program Scholar individually and invited them out to lunch. At Rebecca’s lunch Dr. Mayfield asked her if there was anything she really wanted to do that he could make happen, or that he could get her to place where she was able to make it happen. Rebecca explained that someone she deeply admired had just graduated and she wanted to follow in her footsteps and gain leadership opportunities in her organizations.
“It’s a big deal,” Rebecca says, “to be sponsored by the person whose name is on my academic building. It feels surreal to be able to tell people that I am a Mayfield Program Scholar. It’s definitely a value.”
This lunch led to Rebecca becoming a leader and getting involved in several of the engineering clubs across campus. A few of them being: American Society of Civil Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, and Texas Society of Professional Engineers. Through these, Rebecca was able to make several connections she got to start this academic year with.
Being a Mayfield Program Scholar is Rebecca’s proudest accomplishment since coming to Tarleton State University. Especially this year since she is able to meet all of the new recipients of the Mayfield-Dooley Scholarship and look into their young faces just to let them know what to expect and what the program is about.
Since being a freshman, Rebecca has learned so much and has made many new connections. Not just with Dr. Mayfield and Dean Landaeta, but with all her professors and fellow students. She used the phrase, “Grow into the seat you were given.” She explained that when she first received the Mayfield-Dooley Scholarship, she worried she wouldn’t fit in and wondered why she was chosen above so many others. But now she has learned to accept her place and grow into what she has been given.
After graduation, Rebecca would like to go straight into the work force. She is hopeful she will be able to get some internships while still in college that will allow her to start work full time once she graduates.