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Name: Ameshia Cross
Major (s): Political Science and Journalism
Grad year: 2009
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Why did you choose Belmont?
Coming from a small town, I was born in Chicago, but I grew up in Brandon, Miss., Belmont was a place that kind of felt like home to me. I had visited a couple of times, and I was pleased by its religious approach. The faculty and staff that happened to be at Belmont and the helpfulness that they showed to students also pleased me. I knew that I was going to need that; moving away from home and to a new place for four years, and I kind of wanted that guidance that you get from a student professor relationship. Belmont’s small size helped with that.
With which campus activities were you involved?
I started freshman year with the Student Government Association, and I served in numerous capacities there. I also became president of the Belmont College Democrats, which has been one of the most amazing experiences that I’ve had here. I was president of the Belmont Pre-Law Society. I’m a Belmont ambassador. I’ve also worked with the students against genocide organization and the Belmont Vision.
How has attending Belmont benefited you?
The most beneficial thing would probably be the advising that I get. My academic advisor is one of the most important people that I have come across since I’ve been in college. I don’t think that I would have gotten near as far as I have or gotten the internships that I’ve gotten without really good advising and role models that I’ve gotten while I’ve been at Belmont. I’d definitely say that the people here are probably the best in terms of what you are going to do once you leave Belmont.
How was your relationship with the faculty?
I think that -- at least in my perspective -- all the students at Belmont tend to establish a rapport with their professors. Whether it’s in their major or in their minor or just a student in class for the elective, I think that Belmont fosters that between students and faculty.
How has attending Belmont helped you?
Coming to Belmont has prepared me for many things. I thought the part of the mission statement “engaging and transforming the world” was little bit overzealous when I first got to Belmont, but after being here for four years, I understand that the people here and the relationships that Belmont fosters really does open you up for that. I think that Belmont as a whole with its Christian focus on being open and engaged with the community and actually getting out and doing something and being involved really helped to push its mission as well as to help students find their own.
What is your advice to incoming students?
I would encourage internships, and I would encourage working while you’re in school. I would encourage doing something that you feel is necessary in terms of what you want to do when you leave. As much as I do love in-classroom education, I think that there is something to be said about real world experience. I think that Belmont as whole pushes that to its students. There are a lot of universities that don’t, and I believe that Belmont in and of itself just by dong that puts its students above the rest, because when you’re applying for jobs outside of college, it’s very important to know that you have that experience and that grounding beforehand, because competition is stiff, so it really depends on how much you know and how much you’ve learned. You can only learn so much from textbooks. You’ve got to be out there and be willing to put yourself out there in terms of work and social activities and getting to know people in the fields in which you want to work.
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I am going to work for the White House press secretary for the Obama administration. It’s going to be an amazing experience. I’ve also been accepted to Harvard law, so I have deferred there until I am done with my stint in the White House. I’m going to work in the White House and go to law school after I graduate, it’s going to be an awesome experience. I think that Belmont has prepared me very well for something like that and practically anything else after I leave school.
