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“I’ll admit, I really didn’t want to come here to begin with,” says Nathan Smith, 19, a graduate of Ridgeland High School’s Class of 2004.

“But being here has changed my perspective about Dalton State. I really like it. I’m glad I came.”

It was the smaller classes and caring faculty that made the difference for Nathan, who had heard horror stories from friends at larger universities who have been placed in classes with 300 plus other students.

“In a big school, you can become like a number in the System,” he says. “The largest class I’ve been in is about 40 people. And after the first few weeks, most professors here know your name.”

It didn’t take long for Nathan to adjust. He joined the College Bowl team after he arrived and has traveled throughout Georgia and Florida competing in College Bowl tournaments with his teammates. He is also the Chairman of the College Republicans, a Student Ambassador, and a member of the President’s Council. As part of his role on the President’s Council, he is the Chair of the Student Body Constitutional Convention.

“We are planning to reorganize the constitution of Dalton State’s student government,” he says, “and I’m working on the planning phase of this project. We hope to have it reorganized by late fall.”

For years, one of Nathan’s biggest interests has been in computers. In fact, he’s majoring in Management Information Systems and hopes to be employed in the computer field in the years to come.

“I like dealing with technology in general. I’d like eventually to own my own computer business or to work as the Chief Technology Officer for a large company.”

He gets some experience trouble-shooting in his work study position, where he spends almost 20 hours per week helping out in the College’s Social Sciences Division.

“I’m able to help out when professors have computer problems, and I do other office work as well.”

Nathan enjoys all of his classes, but particularly enjoys economics, accounting and political science classes, he says. And his hobbies – computers and politics - seem to follow his academic interests.

“Being Chairman of the College Republicans has offered him the opportunity to attend conventions of the Georgia Association of College Republicans and to meet new people, including area legislators, across the state.”

“Being involved certainly makes me feel like I contribute to the College and to the surrounding community,” he says.