UCA STUDENT PROFILE

Cyndi Collins
Non-traditional student works toward second bachelor's degree

Cyndi Collins is not your average undergraduate student. She already holds a degree in speech from Delta State University, has a beautiful, four-year-old granddaughter, is a former high school teacher and has owned a needlework shop. Collins is a non-traditional student.

A Louisiana native, Collins has been at UCA for the past year pursuing a degree in public relations. She pursued a degree in speech for four years at Louisiana State University, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education after transferring to Delta State University. Collins decided to pursue a degree in public relations after serving as a public relations coordinator for two years at St. Joseph High School in Greenville, Miss. "I have always been interested in advertising," she said. "I have worked with television stations and done public relations in Greenville. After that experience, I knew I wanted to make a career out of public relations."

After Collins joined her husband in Conway last summer, she visited UCA to inquire about a degree in public relations. She was pleased to find out UCA offers a degree in public relations and was surprised to learn that it is offered through the Department of Writing and Speech. "Many universities offer the public relations program through the college of business, but because it is offered through the Department of Writing and Speech at UCA, my speech background will allow me to earn my degree in a year," Collins said.

Going back to school a second time around has allowed Collins to see things from a different point of view. "Not much has changed, the students are really the same," she said. "We just talk about things more openly now, than we did in the 1960s. What has changed the most is the academic aspect of the speech field. When I went to LSU, speech was a skills major, and since then, there has been so much research done and theories applied to communication. It's interesting to see it from my point of view because those theories are right on. I have been out in the working world and I know first-hand that what we are studying in class is reality," Collins said.

Despite the generation gap, Collins has made a number of friends among traditional students. "At first it was hard, because no one knew me or talked to me," she explained. "But now I know what's going on with everyone and we have a lot of fun together. Being in upper division courses allows me to be with juniors and seniors who are serious and mature, I really enjoy them. I have kids who call me to talk, sometimes I wish that I could find an excuse to be a student forever."

Collins’ gives heed to students who are anxious to graduate. "Don't be in such a hurry," she said. "There is so much to do out there, and you have plenty of time. Don't rush marriage or getting out of college because you have the rest of your life to work."

After she graduates in May, Collins has no definite plans, but knows the public relations field is where she wants to be. "I just like doing it, I like planning things and seeing it work out. I am anxious to get out there and have fun with my job," she said.

Collins gives sound advice when she explains why she enjoys both school and work. "Basically, enjoy people and don't take things too seriously. Just take every day at a time, relax, and have fun with what you are doing."

Written by Shannon Carman, Office of Communications