HSU Senior Advice

As several Hardin-Simmons University students gear up to graduate in December this year, they shared some of their favorite memories and advice to underclassmen.  

Austin Seekins is a senior psychology and Christian studies double major who says success in college should be viewed as more than simply getting good grades. 

Grades and ‘doing well’ are arbitrary expressions if you do not take the time to engage with the curriculum. Allow this time in college to be a point where you can come into your own and not just restate what others have said. Study what’s interesting. Don’t worry so much about what’s not. Do the work. Don’t let the work consume you.

Seekins feels he would tell his younger self to “chill out” if he had the chance. 

“Take time to truly rest and let the pieces fall where they may,” he said. 

Andrew Hester, a senior psychology major, advised freshmen about the dating world in college.  

“Before you start any dating relationship, you need to be able to be comfortable with yourself, not just in confidence, but simply knowing some of your weaknesses and strengths,” he said. 

Hester says college is ultimately a time of refinement and can be challenging, but he gives the following advice:  

Allow yourself to experience the stresses of college, make mistakes, mess up, then take those experiences and change yourself. If you do not change, you will go nowhere in life.

Landri Bayless, a senior business administration major, acknowledged that friendships can be a tricky part of the college experience, but they tend to make the experience worthwhile. 

“Friendships will change throughout college as you change as a person,” Bayless said. “The friends you have going into college might be different than when you graduate. If you feel that your friendships are changing and you’re in a place where you feel like everything is changing, just know that your lifelong friendships are coming. Be the kind of friend that you want to have, and remember to be yourself!” 

Bayless plans on staying at HSU to get a master’s in business administration and work as a campus missionary with the Baptist Student Ministry. 

“I would tell my freshman self that the next four years are going to be completely different than you thought they would be, but it’s going to be so much better!” she said.

Put God first and lean on him, even when things happen that you don’t understand. So many of your prayers are going to be answered and you are going to grow so much!

Congratulations to the December graduating Class of 2023! We can’t wait to see where life takes you.