Student Success Stories- How two students are inspiring individuals to make the most of their college experience

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By Prachi Shashidhar

Rutgers University–Camden is distinguished by its status as a well-regarded research institution, but also by how well it prioritizes student excellence. The university accomplishes this in a variety of ways–by hiring distinguished professors and faculty members, promoting engaging clubs and student organizations, and creating on-campus professional opportunities. Additionally, the university is well known for having an expansive alumni network, and connections within the city of Philadelphia and large companies and hospitals.

Rutgers–Camden consistently makes strides towards creating a campus that nurtures students from all backgrounds by ensuring that a variety of interests and fields of study are represented, both in the course catalogs and student organizations, to help them make the most of their college education–always with the end goal of teaching them how to be well-rounded citizens of the world. This February, the campus was buzzing with more energy than usual. It was the beginning of the spring semester, the last for some students, as well as admitted students day and, perhaps most importantly, Black History Month.

In honor of commemorating the month and celebrating alongside fellow black students, two heavily involved and academically excellent black students spoke on their time at Rutgers University–Camden, sharing their advice on navigating college, making the most of the college experience, and offering a few “trade secrets” that helped them find their path to success

Lelah Tekhna is a graduating senior double majoring in Global Studies and Spanish with a minor in Latin American studies with aspirations of being a housewife & corporate attorney.

During Lelah’s four years as an undergraduate student, she has been involved in multiple student organizations, and explored her passions by getting involved. She holds roles in several on-campus organizations–President of the Pretty Pi Epsilon chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and President of the newly chartered chapter of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), all while being a Bonner Civic Scholar, and a member of SAATH (South Asian Appreciation for Tradition & Heritage) and SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Alliance).

From her experience as the successful wearer of many hats, Lelah’s advice to fellow students is to embrace the idea that “college is really what you make of it.” She says that putting yourself “out there” is key to finding like minded individuals, and making meaningful connections. Additionally, this gives students something to work on and enhances their skills and resume overall–setting them up for success beyond their time at the university. Lelah further highlights how leaning into support from professors and faculty truly helped her mold into the well-rounded student she is today–from finding the right professor and being able to connect with them, to consistently venturing out to make the most of her education through asking questions and reaching out to the right people. According to Lelah, time management is essential to becoming a more well rounded student and being able to juggle the many hats she wears.

Andrea Monet Sellers graduated from Rutgers University–Camden in the Summer of 2023. However, she returned this past fall to pursue her Masters Degree in Psychology, with research interests in Black women’s health, and the stigma around mental health, as well as African American communities, and colorism. She is also serving in the New Jersey National Guard. Andrea’s path to success was unique. She first enrolled as a computer science major, but after taking multiple classes in the field, didn’t feel that this was the type of profession that would compliment her inherent nature to serve and make the world a better place.

She switched majors successfully and pursued a double bachelors degree in Psychology and Childhood Studies after realizing the need within the African American community for shedding the stigma around mental health and creating readily available mental health resources, which paired well with her complimenting interest in Childhood Studies. Similar to Lelah highlighting the importance of learning on professors and faculty, Andrea discussed her passions and field of study with trusted advisors and instructors to figure out the best path for her and landed on Clinical Psychology.

While an undergraduate, Andrea presented her research at the Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (CURCA) at Rutgers–Camden, which she describes as an “eye-opening” experience. Additionally, she got further involved on campus when she crossed for the Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated sorority with the goal of giving back to the community. Andrea stresses the importance of educating fellow students of the existence of the Student Success Coach Office, the Food Pantry (open on Tuesdays & Thursdays), and advises students to be “patient with yourself and advocate for yourself.” She also urges her fellow students to take advantage of the fun events happening on campus, to immerse themselves in the campus community, and to “really get comfortable with being uncomfortable” to make the most out of the college experience.

Lelah Tekhna and Andrea Monet Seller are exemplary students making the most of their college experience and are serving to inspire younger students and show what is possible here at Rutgers University–Camden.