Name: Taylor Penley
Age: 21
Hometown: Chatsworth
High school: Murray County High School
Major: English
Expected graduation date: Fall 2020
Why did you choose Dalton State? I chose Dalton State because of its affordability, its reputation with the Northwest Georgia community and its closeness to home. I value the small class sizes because they allow my professors to see me as an individual instead of assuming a more impersonal role.
What does it mean to you to be part of the Roadrunner Nation? Being a part of Roadrunner Nation means progressing on the road to self-discovery. I feel that the opportunities Dalton State has provided for me have granted me some guidance I did not previously have. I now recognize that I have the ability to facilitate positive change on both a local and larger scale.
What do you plan to do after graduation? I plan to travel often in effort to both apply what I have learned about communication and to extend beyond my small-town understanding of such a large world. I also intend to pursue a graduate program at a Georgia institution and obtain a Ph.D. in English after some time. My ultimate ambition is to thrive in a career which involves technical/creative writing or public relations.
Who is/was your favorite professor and why? I have been blessed with so many wonderful professors, but I have to say my favorite is Dr. Leslie Harrelson. Dr. Harrelson ensures that I apply what I learn in her courses to my own life and she has taught me to view every instance I encounter beyond surface level. She is inspirational, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and kind. I aim to take a class with her at least once per semester. She is a great asset to the English Department, and I will always appreciate her guidance.
What activities are you involved in on campus? I am a member of the Dalton State circle of a national leadership honor society known as Omicron Delta Kappa, and I am the secretary for the Alpha Chi Phi chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society. In March of this year, I also participated in the Georgia State Capitol Job Shadowing Program which allowed me to watch state government operate before my own eyes. This was a life-changing experience for me. I intend to participate again next year and pursue careers which will allow me to make a difference in similar fashion.
What are some of your biggest achievements or accomplishments at Dalton State? I was thrilled to be inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa and Sigma Tau Delta! I have also been included on the dean’s list several times, and I am now participating in the work-study program through the Government and External Relations Department.
Where is your favorite study spot? Anywhere in the Lorberbaum Liberal Arts Building. I’m an English major, so of course that would be my answer!
What’s on your iPad? Social media apps, creative writing excerpts and fitness trackers
Favorite comfort food? Pizza
Favorite line from a movie? “After all, tomorrow is another day.” – Scarlett O’Hara from Gone with the Wind
What is your guilty pleasure? Shopping or watching anime
What do you feel most proud of? Adopting a healthy lifestyle
What is a skill you’d like to learn and why? Since I was a child, I have always wanted to learn a form of martial arts. I plan to pursue that wish in the near future.
What is your favorite book? Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
If you could go back in history, who would you like to meet? William Shakespeare or Thomas Jefferson
What is your favorite app? Facebook or Pinterest
What did you want to be when you were a kid? An author. Some things never change! I have been writing stories since I was 7 years old. Before that, I would say them aloud to my family members. I am currently working on two novels that I hope to finish at some point in the future.
As a Roadrunner, what does it mean to Run Boldly? To Run Boldly means to exercise your talents, believe in your abilities and pursue your dreams with the confidence, grit and nobility expected of a leader.