Middle Georgia State MVP: Fred Baker
Author: News Bureau
Posted: Friday, January 10, 2014 2:07 PM
Category:
Finding Greatness
Macon, GA
Full Name: Frederick Charles Baker II.
Age: 19.
Hometown: “I grew up in Milledgeville but moved to Macon when I was 15. I consider Macon my hometown.”
Residence: Smarr. “It’s a small, quaint, farming village in between Forsyth and Bolingbroke.”
High School: “I spent the majority of my high school career at Howard High School in north Macon, where I was active as a member of Future Business Leaders of America, Model United Nations, Science Club and the Guitar program. I often talk negatively of my high school experience compared to college, but I can't deny that Howard did provide me with a good high school education.”
Family: “I live with my loving and supporting parents Marke Sr. and Jae Baker, along with my older brother Marke Jr. I also have Knoxville and Shadow, the dumbest and sneakiest dogs I've ever met, along with some imaginary friends, but let’s not talk about them.”
Current Employment: “On the weekends I work as a waiter, assistant and host at Buca di Beppo at the Shoppes at River Crossing.”
Degree Objective: Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Pre-clinical and Counseling focus.
Class Rank: Sophomore.
Primary Campus: Macon.
Activities: “My biggest commitment and joy at Middle Georgia State College is being one of the five Executive members of Campus Activities Board or CAB. Bringing wonderful events like our Coffee House Series and Stop the Hunger Games Week, CAB is programming for students by students. Whether through our events, or joining the board, I encourage everyone to check it out. We don’t bite. That problem was fixed a long time ago. I’m also one of the two secretaries for Power N Numbers (Math Club), and a regular member of the Psychology Club, International Students and Studies Association and Toastmasters.”
Career Goals: “I’m torn between going into Clinical Psychotherapy work or Adolescent and Young Adult Counseling, while leaning more towards the latter (or whichever helps get those voices out of my head. (Just kidding.) I want to work one on one with people in environments that support confidence and creativity. I really want to work with teenagers and young adults as they shape their lives. I also hope to achieve a Ph.D. and teach college courses and conduct research at a university. Who knows? I may end one day teaching at the University of Middle Georgia (or whatever name we change our name to.)”
He chose Middle Georgia State College because … “The former Macon State College was actually my backup school. I originally hoped to go to a larger school outside of the Middle Georgia region, but l financial obstacles came up. So I came here with plans of transferring after a year or two. But after one year, it's almost impossible to see myself anywhere else. The low cost, sense of community among students and the wonderful faculty and staff are more than enough to convince me to stay until I graduate. When I talk to my friends who went off to bigger universities, it always seems that I’m getting more out of this school in the year and half I’ve been here then they’ll get throughout their entire college career.”
The one thing that surprised him about Middle Georgia State was … “Absolutely everything! But if I had to narrow it down, I would say the opportunity to get involved and know the Middle Georgia State College community. The student life program here is growing strongly with CAB and other clubs gaining greater directions and opportunities. We work together almost like a family as we explore ourselves and our education while discovering who we want to be. I feel like I know half the faculty and staff here who would help me with anything possible. Some of them I never even had a class with, or ever will!”
His favorite professor is … “Charles Ward. I originally met him as my Art 2 and Photography teacher at Howard High School. I ran into him here and had him as my adviser while I was an Art major and as my First Year Experience professor. He taught us successful skills for college and showed us how to look at ourselves with confidence. I really got to explore what I wanted out of college through his class. I also have to give shout outs to some of the most supportive professors I've met such as Sydney Chalfa, Dr. Loretta Clayton, Dr. Ervin Briones, and definitely Prof. James Sisson. And I can't forget to mention my favorite non-professor staff member, Student Life Programming Coordinator and our CAB Adviser, Amy Carter.”
His favorite place to study is … “Probably at the CAB office upstairs in the Student Life Center. Sitting down there by myself really allows me to focus.”
One thing people don’t know about him is … “I actually have some issues with self-esteem. However, I’ve learn to use how I look at myself as a way to strive to improve, something I wish to teach everyone how to do as they suffer from their own self-image and confidence. People tend to look at themselves and the world in a negative light. But I see these issues as only a small obstacle in everyone’s pursuit of happiness through acceptance.”
His friends make fun of him because … “Mostly my friends make fun of me for my awkward and weird, but outgoing, personality. Although they say it’s a good thing, it doesn’t stop their jokes. They also point out that I run into half the people I know wherever I go, especially on campus. If I see you from even the completely opposite side of the campus, I will yell out your name and say hi.”
The one person he’d most like to meet is … “I want to meet absolutely everyone in the world and get to know them! So narrowing it down is incredibly hard. There are so many notable figures. I would have to start with great Humanistic Psychologists such as Abraham Maslow, who is known for his Hierarchy of Needs theory, or Carl Rogers for his Client – Centered Therapy approach. Even some modern Positive Psychologists such as Daniel Gilbert and Martin Seligman, known for studying the conditions that create happiness. Maybe even Sigmund Freud to figure out what he was really thinking. Another candidate would be my favorite author John Green, who is known for his great coming of age young adult novels Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars. Finally, I’d want to meet a clone of myself. I think it would be a little rough, but we would eventually become the best of friends.”
Five years from now he sees himself … “Hopefully close to finishing my Master’s Degree at either University of West Georgia or The New School. Maybe even at MGSC if we get a Masters in Psychology in time. Regardless, I‘ll definitely be looking back to how this school has helped me grow in so many ways.”
-- Compiled by Sheron Smith