Faith Burrill

"I am thankful for the life-changing opportunity to pursue my dream of a bachelor’s degree as a non-traditional student from rural West Virginia. There have been many high points along the way including receiving the Jon Scott Nelson Freshman Writing Award my first year, participating in the Pipeline Rural Education Program, and receiving the Eberly College Outstanding Senior Award my final year. Now that I have completed my bachelor’s degree, I plan to attend law school and continue my work with non-profit organizations as a legal consultant and advocate. My life experience growing up the oldest of nine homeschooled children in rural West Virginia has given me a unique perspective and determination to succeed on behalf of others like me. I hope to use my life-story along with the skills I learned at West Virginia University, to shape culture and policies that better protect and support the next generation of women, children, and minorities.

One of my favorite things about the RBA program is that it allowed me to tailor my degree to fit my career goals and my personal interests. It gave me the opportunity to build on my years of experience in non-profit work that ranges from home-plan assistance for West Virginia parolees, to Afghan refugee support, to addressing the transportation, healthcare, and housing gap in Ritchie and Doddridge Counties in West Virginia. Because of the scope and flexibility of the program, I learned to apply critical thinking skills over a wide range of subjects while honing practical skills like drafting grant proposals, conducting surveys, planning budgets, and launching media campaigns. Most importantly, the expertise and detailed feedback from my professors both in and out of class boosted my confidence and taught me how to apply rigorous academic research to the issues that matter most to me and my community."