UHV senior builds confidence through Student Life job, activities
Makayla Hargrove did not realize how much her social skills would improve while attending the University of Houston-Victoria until she became an office assistant for Student Life & Services.
Hargrove, a senior from Austin set to graduate in December with a Bachelor of Science in communication, has worked for Student Life & Services for two years.
“As an office assistant, I greet students and make sure everyone who comes in has what he or she needs,” she said.
Townsquare Media and McAdams Floral recognized Hargrove for her outstanding work during Administrative Professionals Day in April. Rose Brett, an administrative secretary for UHV Student Life & Services, nominated Hargrove for the honor.
Before Hargrove began working for Student Life & Services, she did not socialize much with other students. She spent a lot of time inside her room.
“Taking part in Student Life activities made me less homesick,” she said. “I got to know the college experience through being involved. Student Life provides different events for students to attend. It shows the diversity at the school and brings out the fun.”
Hargrove went on trips to Six Flags and Schlitterbahn and participated in Pride Week, Open Mic Night and Splatterbeat. She also took part in Jags Join In: Day of Service by volunteering at Adopt-A-Pet.
“We took pictures of the dogs to put on social media for adoption,” Hargrove said. “We also bathed the dogs and cleaned the areas where the dogs and cats played.”
In addition, Hargrove was part of a group of 28 students and four staff members who went to Louisiana during Labor Day weekend to assist in recovery efforts after the state experienced severe flooding.
“I really enjoyed helping people,” she said. “I got to hear different stories. For one man, his wife had just died right before the flood. She had cooked him meals he kept in a deep freezer. The freezer was safe after the flood, and the meals were safe for him to eat.”
Hargrove, 22, chose to attend UHV because it was not too far from home. She also liked the class sizes.
“UHV has a lot of faculty members who are all about the students. The faculty fights for the students,” she said.
Hargrove chose to major in communication because of the many career opportunities within the field. She plans to use her Student Life work and social experiences in her career.
“Working in Student Life helped me with my people skills,” she said. “I am not afraid to start up a conversation with people anymore.”
Hargrove recommends new UHV students take part in Student Life activities.
“They want students to get out and do more,” she said. “They want students to meet new friends, so the college experience is not boring and dull. They want students to have fun.”
I am a Jaguar is an online feature highlighting the exceptional students who attend the University of Houston-Victoria. To nominate a student, contact Jeremy Shapiro, UHV communications manager, or call 361-570-4296.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
