Emily Buckner
Emily Buckner, 鈥�20 human resources, knew she wanted to come to 麻豆果冻传媒 since her freshman year of high school. Living and growing up just a county away in Gainesboro, Tennessee, Buckner knew Tech鈥檚 reputation and she knew she enjoyed school. So, why not go to Tech?
As a first-generation college student, there were plenty of other questions to answer too, like how she would pay for school, what she would study and how to navigate the entire experience. Knowing that she qualified for the Tennessee Promise program, which provides funding for two-year degree program students, Buckner made the choice to begin her college journey at Vol State Community College鈥檚 Cookeville Campus.
鈥淚 was a first-generation college student, I knew I had Tennessee Promise, and Vol State鈥檚 Cookeville campus was close,鈥� Buckner said. 鈥淪o, I gave it a try.鈥�
Buckner set a plan to get her basic business courses done at Vol State, earn a two-year degree there and transfer to Tech鈥檚 College of Business for earn her bachelor鈥檚 degree.
鈥淲hen I started my first semester, I was not the student I am today. I wasn鈥檛 confident in anything I was doing,鈥� Buckner said. 鈥淢y family was supportive, but they hadn鈥檛 been to college before either. My professors really helped me blossom.鈥�
At Vol State, Buckner served on the Student Government Association, studied abroad in Ireland, helped start a clothing closet of professional attire for students and earned the Tuttle Award for service.
When she transferred to Tech, Buckner had to opportunity to pick a field within business to focus on.
鈥淚 was really drawn to the human and development side of business,鈥� she said. 鈥淲orking in human resources, I can really make a difference for people鈥檚 professional lives. You can have an impact and see how what you鈥檙e doing makes a difference.鈥�
She is figuring out the finances of the college experience as well.
鈥淏ecause of Tennessee Promise, I came to Tech debt-free and now in my second semester at Tech, I am still debt-free,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 love it at Tech. I loved Vol State too, but I feel like this is where I belong, like I was meant to end up here.鈥�
