As a 67-year-old retiree, Amy Lendian wants you to know it鈥檚 never too late. Never too late to start over; to go for your dream career; to earn your college degree.

When the 麻豆原创 Online history student assumes her spot at the console at Kennedy Space Center to lead the facility systems engineers for the upcoming historic Artemis II launch, that affirmation will echo within her once more.

鈥淚 always believed in myself and felt that I could do this,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t really is never too late.鈥�

Turning a Setback Into a Comeback

Lendian spent the majority of her adult life building her career as a fire protection engineer, helping design sprinkler systems and other fire safety infrastructure.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic happened. The construction industry came to a screeching halt. In her 60s, she suddenly faced unemployment.

鈥淚 thought, 鈥榃ho is going to want to hire me in my 60s?鈥� 鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut I made it my job to find a job. And not just any job. I set out for my dream job in the aerospace industry.鈥�

She logged in every day on her home computer to research job listings, dressed as if she was headed to an office. She sought career counseling. She joined virtual seminars to learn new software and online tools she knew she鈥檇 need to master if she wanted to break into the field. She learned how to rework her resume to leverage her relevant skills.

Her strategy and persistence paid off. She got a call back for a fire protection systems engineer position on base at Kennedy Space Center.

Finding Her Place in Space

On her first day at KSC, she attended a briefing where they discussed etiquette while serving on the console. She says it took her a moment to process what she was hearing.

鈥淚 stayed up to watch Neil Armstrong walk on the moon. I have a photo of myself as a kid standing in front of an Apollo rocket. And you鈥檙e saying you want me to be on the console during a launch?!鈥� she says. 鈥淚 thought, 鈥業鈥檓 here. I arrived.鈥� 鈥�

Lendian served on the console for the Artemis I launch in November 2022.

Although she has since retired from her formal position with KSC and moved to Chicago, she is still employed as a part-time consultant and will be there again for Artemis II managing the fire protection systems on the launchpad.

Finishing What She Started

Her late-stage career change inspired her to consider other dreams she had yet to realize. A big one has been nearly 50 years in the making.

Lendian was 19 years old when she attempted college the first time. She enrolled in the University of South Florida鈥檚 electrical engineering program in the late 1970s. But after three years, she stopped her studies because she got married and needed to support her new family.

In 2021, she decided to resuscitate her dream of a college degree. She transferred her old credits into the program at Eastern Florida State College, earned her associate鈥檚 degree and looked to enroll in one of 麻豆原创 Online鈥檚 degree programs so she could manage school with her full-time job.

The history degree she is working toward is affiliated with one of the top online institutions. 麻豆原创 ranks No. 6 for Online Bachelor鈥檚 Programs nationally according to the U.S. News & World Report.

鈥淚 want that bachelor鈥檚 degree,鈥� Lendian says. 鈥淚 am doing this for me. I am going to do something that I love (history). And I am going to graduate.鈥�

Student organizations like International Medical Outreach showcase the global collaboration and learning celebrated during International Education Week, Nov. 18-22.

Through IMO 鈥� a student-led nonprofit committed to transforming healthcare in underserved communities worldwide 鈥� Disney found a way to combine her love for healthcare and helping others with global service.

From organizing free health clinics and educational workshops in Haiti to constructing pharmacies in remote villages, IMO empowers students like Disney to educate others about healthcare disparities while gaining invaluable cultural and professional experience. Students of any major can become community volunteers, improving upon the sustainability and efficacy of medical care within all areas the organization serves.

For Disney, a second-year biomedical sciences student and IMO community relations officer, it鈥檚 not just about learning medicine 鈥� it鈥檚 about building bridges, fostering compassion and leaving a legacy of care.

Here she reflects on her beginnings in medicine, her transformative journey with IMO and the positive impact it鈥檚 had on her personal growth and her future in healthcare.

My grandfather鈥檚 brain tumor diagnosis sparked my passion for medicine.

My interest in medicine began when my grandfather was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of aggressive brain cancer. I vividly remember the shock and fear that took over our family when we first learned of his diagnosis. Over the following months, I watched my grandfather go through numerous treatments 鈥� chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries 鈥� which were both heartbreaking and inspiring. I was particularly struck by the doctors and nurses who managed his complex medical while also providing him and our family with unwavering emotional support. This experience made me aware of the gaps in access to healthcare, especially for patients facing serious illnesses who may not have strong health insurance or access to care. It inspired me to seek opportunities to learn more about global healthcare challenges, which is why joining IMO felt like the perfect next step.

My first service trip came with unexpected challenges.

Going into my first service trip to Piracicaba, Brazil, I expected to observe the challenges faced in underserved areas and hoped to make a positive impact on people鈥檚 lives through basic care and education. However, the reality of healthcare in Piracicaba was more complex than I had anticipated. While the community had some healthcare infrastructure, there were significant gaps in access to essential resources, medications and follow-up care. I quickly learned that the challenges weren鈥檛 just about treating illnesses, but also about education, prevention and long-term community health.

One of the unexpected challenges was language and cultural differences. In rural areas outside of the main city of Piracicaba, I struggled to communicate with citizens who spoke only Portuguese. I adapted by working closely with translators and bilingual members and using non-verbal communication, learning to be more patient and empathetic in those moments. A memorable moment occurred when we observed a physician treating a 20-year-old patient in the ICU who had been involved in a severe motorcycle accident. He had sustained multiple injuries and was in critical condition, with his girlfriend by his side, advocating for his care and providing emotional support despite the overwhelming stress of the situation. Watching the deep bond between them and the relief in her eyes as he made progress was incredibly moving. It underscored the critical role of immediate medical care, as well as the emotional strength that both patients and their families bring to the healing process. This experience highlighted how IMO鈥檚 work goes beyond just medical education 鈥� it鈥檚 about offering compassionate care that supports both the physical and emotional well-being of patients and their loved ones. This trip taught me the importance of cultural sensitivity, adaptability and the need for sustainable healthcare solutions.

Visiting India deepened my understanding of global health issues.

During our shadowing trip to Aurangabad, India, I was exposed to some of the most pressing global health issues, especially in impoverished areas. One of the most significant challenges I witnessed was the lack of access to basic healthcare services. In many rural communities, there were few medical facilities and even fewer trained healthcare providers. Common illnesses often went untreated, leading to preventable complications and deaths. Plus, the lack of health education left people unaware of how to prevent or manage basic conditions like infections or malnutrition. I saw how health disparities are often tied to broader systemic issues such as poverty, lack of education and poor infrastructure. I also gained insights into how cultural beliefs and local practices influence health behaviors, and how important it is to approach healthcare with cultural sensitivity and respect.

I鈥檓 grateful for the exposure to the global health landscape through IMO鈥檚 work. Students like me gain a deeper appreciation for the challenges people face when basic care isn鈥檛 readily available. These shadowing experiences inspire a broader understanding of how global health issues are interconnected, and how students can play a role in bridging gaps.

What I鈥檝e learned from service work: Healthcare is a human right.

If I could convey one message about global health disparities based on my experiences, it would be that healthcare access is a fundamental human right 鈥� not a privilege. Too many people around the world are suffering and dying from treatable conditions simply because they don鈥檛 have access to the basic medical care that many of us take for granted. By investing in both short-term medical relief and long-term health education, organizations like IMO are not only saving lives but also laying the groundwork for sustainable healthcare systems that empower entire communities.

Joining IMO has been an invaluable part of my healthcare education.

I鈥檝e studied diseases, treatments and medical principles in traditional classroom and clinical settings, but IMO鈥檚 service trips have allowed me to see how these concepts are applied in real-world, resource-limited environments. Working with IMO has deeply influenced my understanding of what it means to be a healthcare provider 鈥� someone who not only diagnoses and treats diseases but also fosters relationships, understands a patient鈥檚 environment, and tailors care to their specific needs and circumstances.

In countries like Brazil and India, I saw how essential it is to approach patients holistically 鈥� considering cultural factors, local health beliefs and the challenges of their daily lives. The healthcare providers I shadowed in these communities did more than treat patients 鈥� they became educators, counselors and advocates, guiding patients through complex and often inaccessible healthcare systems. IMO has given me the opportunity to be directly involved in healthcare delivery. I learned that as a student I鈥檓 more than a future healthcare provider 鈥� I鈥檓 an essential agent of change in global health today.

The 27-year-old is now well on her way to achieving both goals.

Cari帽o, an aerospace engineering student at 麻豆原创, won the title of Miss Florida in July 2021 鈥� which was the first pageant competition of her life. She went on to place third in the Miss USA competition held Nov. 28, 2021. Last year, she won the Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022. On Jan. 14, she placed in the top five at the Miss Universe pageant.

鈥淭his was something that for a long time I didn’t think I could do,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd when I won [Miss Florida], I realized that I’m just as capable as anyone. Every woman is powerful, and every woman can accomplish whatever it is they set their mind to.鈥�

鈥淭his was something that for a long time I didn’t think I could do. … Every woman is powerful, and every woman can accomplish whatever it is they set their mind to.鈥�

Cari帽o was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Kissimmee when she was 5 years old. She was drawn to science and astronomy for as long as she can remember, and took up robotics and architecture in high school.

She attended Valencia College before transferring to 麻豆原创 in 2019 through the DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 program, where her younger sister Joyce also studies biomedical sciences as an aspiring doctor.

Although she likely will have to take a hiatus from her final year of studies because of her duties and responsibilities as Miss Florida, she is committed to finishing out her degree, where she is focusing on design and propulsion.

鈥淎erospace engineering is something that I’ve always dreamed of doing, and I plan on doing so. I would love to work with a company like SpaceX or NASA,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 don’t care how old I am or how long it takes 鈥� I’m going to finish my degree.鈥�

Cari帽o shares more about her background and reflects on her first聽win, which has propelled her to continue competing in the pageant circuit.

Take us back to the moment when you realized you won Miss Florida. What did you think and feel?

I could literally hear my heartbeat in my ears. I was so nervous. I was telling myself, 鈥淥K remember, Ashley, if they call Shakira鈥檚 name, that means you won鈥� 鈥� it’s confusing because they announce the runner-up鈥檚 name first. So I was just repeating that to myself. And when he finally didn’t call my name and he said Shakira鈥檚 name, it took me a moment to realize, 鈥淲ait. You won 鈥� you鈥檙e the winner.鈥� I was definitely in shock. I couldn’t believe it.

How long have you hoped to do something like this?

My family and I would always watch pageants and I have always loved the glitz and the glamour. We鈥檙e from Puerto Rico and Hispanics love pageantry. So growing up with that, my family would always encourage me to do it. But I was always shy and a bookworm. I just never dived into it because I was focused on my education and my career. For the last six years I鈥檝e worked full-time at a mental health agency as a mentor where I use STEM programs to help children use science as a coping mechanism, because for me that’s what helped when I was growing up. So I always wanted to do it, but I’ve never really had the time or confidence to do it until now.

Miss Florida was your first pageant. What did you learn about the process of the competition?

It鈥檚 a lot of work. I had to learn the pageant walk. I had to learn public speaking. The pageantry definitely opened my eyes to a lot things about myself, because when you’re in a pageant, you have to learn who you are. I opened myself to a completely new world.

鈥淚 feel so fortunate because not only do I get to represent the beautiful people of Florida, but I also get to represent the Hispanic community and anyone who has a dream and who wants to go for it.鈥�

What does it mean to you to hold the title of Miss Florida?

It means everything. It’s a huge responsibility and I feel so fortunate because not only do I get to represent the beautiful people of Florida, but I also get to represent the Hispanic community and anyone who has a dream and who wants to go for it.聽 Because I had a dream but for so long I sort of put it on the back burner. And when I finally got to do it, I realized that you should always fight for your dreams because they do come true. They can come true if you put the work into it.

What are your priorities in your role as Miss Florida?

Just to empower women from all walks of life. And to let them know that they’re incredibly strong and incredibly powerful 鈥� that doesn鈥檛 just go for women, but anyone.

One of the things that I really want to do is visit Shriners Children鈥檚 Hospital because when I was 13, I was diagnosed with scoliosis. So I had to wear a back brace for my entire high school career. I was treated at Shriners Hospital, so I would really like to return as Miss Florida, and just provide the children there with my support and even maybe take a team of 麻豆原创 students over there to just spend a day with them and talk to them about different science topics and just get their curiosity sparked in that field.

What do you wish people knew about you?

I’m a hard working person and super friendly. I can be shy sometimes, but I’m someone that loves to help out, and someone you can count on.

“I wanted to find a way that allowed students to embrace math rather than see it as something scary.”

鈥淕rowing up, I was never great at math. In fact, I actively despised it. I did not like teaching math either,鈥� Malahoo says. 鈥淚 wanted to find a way that allowed students to embrace math rather than see it as something scary.鈥�

Motivated to find new strategies and ways to present material that would help students embrace and enjoy their studies, Malahoo decided to apply for graduate school. A former scholar of the 鈥� an education, industry and community partnership aimed at improving mathematics, science and technology education in Central Florida 鈥� she earned a master鈥檚 in K-8 mathematics and science education this summer.

鈥淕raduate school allowed me to learn, unlearn and relearn,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he professors at Lockheed Martin Academy helped me understand the concepts behind math instead of just memorizing processes. It was like a light bulb went off. I took that confidence back into the classroom and shared it with my fellow teachers. Now I have a model classroom that other teachers visit to see how I instruct my kids.鈥�

Helping Others Amid a Pandemic

In addition to her daily role as mom, teacher and student, Malahoo is a strong advocate for her local community. Most recently, she jumped into action after seeing the toll of the coronavirus pandemic.

鈥淲hen the pandemic hit, I noticed some parents lost their jobs and saw how it affected the kids,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 live in the same neighborhood as my students, so I observed their needs firsthand and knew that I needed to help.鈥�

One of her first efforts last spring focused on literacy.

鈥淎fter school went virtual, I would check in on my students,鈥� she says. 鈥淢any of them would tell me that they didn鈥檛 have access to books. They weren鈥檛 reading.鈥�

So Malahoo, who is also a technology trainer at the Orange County Public Library, gathered books and started lending them to students. After finishing one book, they would return it to her house and get another one.

But when Florida afternoon storms soaked several books left on Malahoo鈥檚 porch, she explored other solutions that would provide a safe shelter to keep the book-sharing endeavor going. That鈥檚 when she learned about the Little Free Library, the world鈥檚 largest book-sharing movement. After being awarded a grant, Malahoo put together a Little Free Library in her front yard. Today, the small wooden structure 鈥� almost like a birdhouse for free books 鈥� provides a space for her neighbors to gather, catch up and find the next book to dig into.

Connecting with fellow neighbors also provided Malahoo a glimpse into their lives. Through conversations, she learned about their needs 鈥� from food insecurity to homelessness, among other struggles to make ends meet. When students shared that they were going to skip Thanksgiving because they didn鈥檛 have food. Malahoo sprang into action again, this time reaching out to local organizations. That鈥檚 where she met and partnered with the non-profit organization Above and Beyond for Change. Together, they were able to secure more than 45 pre-cooked Thanksgiving Dinners from Publix. On Thanksgiving eve, she set up a table in her driveway and distributed the pre-cooked dinners.

Fostering a Culture of Giving Back

Malahoo鈥檚 community events and efforts soon became a monthly happening. With the continued assistance from Above and Beyond for Change, she distributed dozens of coats and jackets last December to help keep students warm in colder temperatures. Several months later, she prepared small packages of snacks as a Valentine鈥檚 Day gift. Then, ahead of spring break, she rallied community members to assemble boxes of food that would ensure students and their families had at least three meals per day.

The events have not only helped serve those in need but have brought the community together. Local organizations, including the Orlando Police Department (OPD), join in the efforts in getting involved and giving back.

鈥淚 invite OPD to many of these events because I know there鈥檚 a need to build positive relations between our law enforcement and our community,鈥� Malahoo says. 鈥淭hey even brought their patrol horses and K-9s out to the event, which the kids loved.鈥�

In the final weeks of the 2020-21 school year, Mahaloo achieved another dream: to donate 100 bikes.

鈥淭he Florida weather can be tough on students walking home. A bike makes their trek much easier,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also a great way to keep kids active and gets them outside more.鈥�

Mahaloo also partnered with Bike Walk Central Florida to secure a helmet for each child.

And while school was out for the summer, she spent months organizing her most recent event, a Back-to-School Bash. The event, which saw nearly 200 children and families and hosted 20 vendors, kicked off the start of a new schoolyear. Vendors provided support and information on a wide range of services, including information about mental health awareness, food and nutrition, safety, literacy and more.

鈥淚 have a heart to serve. I鈥檓 so grateful to have received so much support, especially from the organization nonprofit organization Above & Beyond for Change,鈥� Mahaloo says. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e helped with funding each of my initiatives 鈥� I couldn鈥檛 do this without them. I want to continue garnering support from other community members, too. If we all wrap our arms around these underserved kids, just imagine what they could do.鈥�

Looking Toward the Future

Mahaloo is looking forward to welcoming her students back to the classroom this fall. This year, she鈥檒l be teaching third grade after spending nine years with first graders and kindergarteners.

鈥淚 look forward to meeting my students and applying many of the same concepts that I鈥檝e learned in school to a testing grade,鈥� she says.

She also plans to launch a STEM club for students.

鈥淲orking at a Title I school, we have limited resources,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut I wanted to put something together for students who have a desire and willingness to get involved in STEM-related activities. I鈥檝e secured snap circuits, a 3D printer and Lego WeDo, and am working to get other materials that will provide fun, hands-on experiences for kids.鈥�

“You know you鈥檙e doing something good when it鈥檚 the end of the school week and you tell the kids, 鈥業鈥檒l see you Monday鈥� and they say, 鈥榃ait 鈥� no school tomorrow?鈥� That鈥檚 worth it to me.”

And after the final bell rings at school and everyone leaves for the day, Mahaloo will transition from teacher to student. Recently accepted into a doctoral program at 麻豆原创, she starts working toward her EdD in curriculum and instruction this fall.

鈥淢y entire goal in life is to positively impact my society, my community,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 want to empower students to take control of their world. They鈥檙e no longer a passive participant just sitting in listening to me. You know you鈥檙e doing something good when it鈥檚 the end of the school week and you tell the kids, 鈥業鈥檒l see you Monday鈥� and they say, 鈥榃ait 鈥� no school tomorrow?鈥� That鈥檚 worth it to me.鈥�

Tas grew up in Turkey鈥檚 capital city, Ankara, as the daughter of a Chinese mother and Turkish father. She says her Chinese name, X墨x墨 (pronounced 鈥渟he-she鈥�), means to wish or to hope, and for the final year she lived in Turkey before moving to Florida, she hoped for the ability to enact change.

鈥淏ombs would go off and that was kind of an everyday part of life. My parents and teachers would warn me about avoiding crowds and suicide bombers and it was just normalized,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 would cry myself to sleep, thinking why do I not have any power? Why can鈥檛 I do anything to make things better? At the time I was 16 and I was like how do I get to where I say something and people listen? How can I help anyone?

鈥淣ow I try to help people as best as I can.鈥�

She moved to the United States in 2016 as a senior in high school after her father accepted a position as a research professor at 麻豆原创. At the time, her family expected the move to be temporary. But when a coup attempted happened in Turkey, they decided to make their stay more permanent.

While she was grateful for the opportunities America offered, Tas says immigrating to a new country during your senior year of high school is less-than-ideal timing. She desperately needed to improve her English, struggled to find friends and lost all her confidence.

鈥淚 became really anxious because I didn鈥檛 want to make any mistakes,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 wanted to fit in but there were already friend groups established and I wasn鈥檛 in any of them.鈥�

With the encouragement of her parents, college was always a goal and proved to be another fresh start that she needed.

She earned her associate鈥檚 degree in one year from Seminole State College and enrolled at 麻豆原创 as a Burnett Honors Scholar. She overcame her insecurities by getting involved in different student organizations, including Tau Sigma National Honor Society and Delta Phi Lambda, Inc. sorority, eventually assuming leadership positions within the groups.

She felt particularly passionate about improving the transition experience for transfer students to 麻豆原创 and advocated for reinstating the Transfer Center.

鈥淪eher, along with the rest of her board members, did everything within their power to better the experiences of not just their members but of all transfer students at 麻豆原创,鈥� says Lashay Vazquez, career counselor at 麻豆原创 Career Services who got to know Tas while serving as an advisor for Tau Sigma. 鈥淚t’s apparent in everything that Seher does that she cares about those around her.聽She also is very determined. If she wants something, she will tirelessly work until she achieves it.鈥�

Tas also became actively involved within her major 鈥� film, which she was drawn to from the time she was a young girl, enlisting her younger sister to play all the roles in her homemade movies.

鈥淚 just really loved how you can empower someone through film,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 was inspired by how they made me feel 鈥� I would see someone Asian and I would be really excited about it because I didn鈥檛 have anyone like that around me growing up. It hit me in high school when I was like, I really enjoy this. Why can鈥檛 it be my career?鈥�

Now that she鈥檚 earning her diploma, she is one step closer to realizing her goal. She knows that breaking into the film industry isn鈥檛 easy, but she is committed to making it happen and one day starting her own production company that highlights the stories of underrepresented populations.

鈥淚 want to contribute to breaking the glass ceiling and empower younger girls to show them you have the power to do this if you鈥檙e passionate about it,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know if I could make that change in the world that I wanted. Now I have a lot more confidence because I have more skills in film and I have this network of people at 麻豆原创 who supported me. So I believe that in the future I will be able to make some positive change.鈥�

Paul, who is earning two degrees in psychology and criminal justice this semester, remembers much of that afternoon in January 2010 that changed her life. Then 12, she was at home with her grandmother, two sisters and cousins while her mother had gone out to call her father, a U.S. citizen who was living stateside at the time.

鈥淚 was in the front of my house, and it started shaking. My grandma screamed, 鈥業t鈥檚 an earthquake!鈥� 鈥� she recalls. 鈥淲e stayed on the floor until everything stopped and my uncle ran in to help us get out. It was so foggy when we went outside from all the debris. When it started to clear, that鈥檚 when I noticed I had been walking on bodies.鈥�

She says the family nearly lost her aunt, who had become trapped under a building. Her relatives all worked to get her out and it took her months to recover. Her grandmother broke her arm from falling when the quake hit. Fortunately, everyone in her family survived.

Paul says that she hasn鈥檛 suffered from the trauma and shock of the experience, but there are scenes that stay with her 鈥� the school near her house that collapsed and killed the children who were attending; the neighbor who ran back inside a house to save someone but died along with them 鈥� and motivate her to make the most of her life.

鈥淭hat could have happened to me,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he fact that I got to come the United States, I鈥檓 going to take advantage of all the opportunities I can.鈥�

Paul, along with her sisters and mother, eventually moved to Philadelphia with her father, where she started the ninth grade unable to read, speak or comprehend English. She made it a goal to learn it quickly and add to her repertoire of mastered languages: French, Creole and Spanish.

College was another goal. It always was.

鈥淓ducation is a huge thing in Haitian culture,鈥� says Paul, who is the first in her family to attend college. 鈥淥ur country believes that with education you can get really far, so it鈥檚 something they push hard from the time you鈥檙e young. Since I was little, I always wanted to become something big.鈥�

Her family eventually moved to Florida, where she started at Palm Beach State College before transferring to 麻豆原创. She has found ways to become involved in the campus culture, joining the Caribbean Students鈥� Association and a jujitsu club. She says her fellow jujitsu club members have become like family to her. She also made the dean鈥檚 list.

鈥淲e been through so much in surviving the earthquake, but what amazed us the most is her courage and her determination to keep going and do well in life and think that no matter what everything is going to be alright,鈥� her parents, Jean and Yvonie, wrote in an email. 鈥淲e feel proud and happy at the same time, and we will do everything in our power to make her earn a master鈥檚 degree also because she can and she will.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy to get through college and get a degree. When I look at where I鈥檝e come from, I鈥檓 proud of the fact that I kept going.鈥�

As she achieves one of her dreams Aug. 7, she looks to her future where she hopes to earn a master鈥檚 degree in data science and eventually pursue a career as a criminal profiler. When she thinks about finally having her diploma in hand, she can鈥檛 help but think about her family.

鈥淚 wanted to go to college and get my degree for my family 鈥� to make my parents proud and everyone around me proud and be an example for my sisters to look up to,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy to get through college and get a degree. When I look at where I鈥檝e come from, I鈥檓 proud of the fact that I kept going.鈥�

It鈥檚 taken the 麻豆原创 student years to get to this point in his life; a place of acceptance for the abuse he suffered as a child and the disappointments he has had to endure. Now, as the 30-year-old is one semester away from becoming the first person in his family to earn a college degree, he鈥檚 grateful for the focus and drive that brought him to this point in his life.

鈥淚鈥檝e learned if you just persevere and have a clear goal and focus,鈥� he says, 鈥測ou can get through anything.鈥�

Daniels was born in West Palm Beach and was in kindergarten, the oldest of three brothers, when his parents split up and his mother soon after began dating someone who was abusive. He says he went to school with bruises, sometimes a sprained limb, until child services eventually intervened.

He spent two years in foster care while the courts figured out what his fate would be. He didn鈥檛 realize it at the time, but the lawyers involved in his case made an impression on him and would play a role later in shaping his career aspirations.

鈥淭hey seemed like they鈥檙e valued members of the community and people cared about what they had to say,鈥� says the legal studies major. 鈥淭hey were kind of like modern-day heroes, saving children or people in need. They just had a very professional and commanding attitude and presence that I respected.鈥�

Once Daniels was deemed a ward of the court, he was placed with his grandmother, who he says welcomed and adored him. Daniels and his youngest brother, an infant at the time who went to live with an aunt and uncle in Massachusetts, kept in contact over the years and saw each other during the holidays. His middle brother stayed with his mother and moved to the western part of the country. Daniels rarely spoke to either of them.

When he graduated from high school, Daniels planned on enlisting in the Air Force to become a pilot. Just before he was set to head to boot camp, he found out he had a blue-red color vision deficiency, which meant no flying.

鈥淚 was devastated,鈥� he says. 鈥淔or a little while I didn鈥檛 know what I wanted to do. I felt like I had let my whole family down because I felt like there was a lot of hype and when it didn鈥檛 happen, I was crushed. I ended up running away from home because I didn鈥檛 want to face it.鈥�

鈥淲hen I was younger, I wished all the time, 鈥榃hy can鈥檛 I just have a normal life?鈥� Now that I鈥檓 older and I鈥檝e learned a little bit more, I think it鈥檚 like the furnace for steel 鈥� it hardened me and made me a stronger person.鈥�

For a while he did odd jobs. He worked at Panera Bread. He sold nuts and bolts for an industrial-supply company. He was a car salesman for a couple days.

鈥淚 just felt a longing for something more,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 just knew I wanted to go to school and make something of myself.鈥�

He enrolled at St. Johns River State College and eventually transferred to 麻豆原创 to major in computer science. When he quickly realized the required math classes weren鈥檛 for him, he took an aptitude and personality test he found online. Lawyer popped up among the list of professions he matched with, and he started to think about the lawyers from his childhood.

He switched his major to legal studies and nearly every facet of his life started pulling in the right direction, he says. He made the dean鈥檚 list. He started seeking counseling through to unpack his childhood trauma. He finally made lasting friendships he always wished for as a kid by playing his favorite game, Dungeons & Dragons. He became engaged in his classes, even when they challenged his weaknesses.

鈥淲e have a mock courtroom on the downtown campus so we can get a feel of how it will be. I鈥檝e shied away from public speaking, but it鈥檚 been a really fun challenge to see myself progress,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 found that I like to command that room.鈥�

He says once he pays off his student loans, he would like to offer legal services pro bono to help children who are in the same position he was in as a child. Daniels is most proud of the work it took to get this far, and that his youngest brother has told him he wants to go back to school, just like Daniels did.

鈥淎t risk of sounding clich茅, they say 鈥榃hat doesn鈥檛 kill you makes you stronger.鈥� I definitely agree,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen I was younger, I wished all the time, 鈥榃hy can鈥檛 I just have a normal life?鈥� Now that I鈥檓 older and I鈥檝e learned a little bit more, I think it鈥檚 like the furnace for steel 鈥� it hardened me and made me a stronger person.鈥�

The fact that the 41 year old decided to pursue a degree in music performance and a career as a piano teacher is not all that out of the ordinary. She鈥檚 had the urge to play ever since she was a toddler who used to reach up to plunk on the keys of her mother鈥檚 piano in their Tennessee home.

What is unexpected about Cook鈥檚 story is that for the first three decades of her life, she had no exposure to most music genres and artists 鈥� from The Beatles to Duke Ellington to Dolly Parton to Metallica and nearly everything in between.

And then college happened.

鈥淲hen I started going to college, I was a very shy, withdrawn, anxious person. I had almost no confidence. My professors [at Valencia and 麻豆原创] believed in me. They helped me to learn to believe in myself,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hen I think back in a few years from now, I鈥檓 going to be really grateful that I had this experience.鈥�

Raised on Hymns and Classical Music

As the second oldest of six children, Cook says she had an ultraconservative upbringing and says the homeschool program her family subscribed to was very restrictive. Cook 鈥� who learned from her mother how to play the piano 鈥� was allowed to listen to hymns or classical music, but anything with a bassline was off limits.

鈥淚f you couldn鈥檛 listen to Christian music that has a drum, then you definitely were not going to be able to listen to most stuff,鈥� she says.

鈥淚f you couldn鈥檛 listen to Christian music that has a drum, then you definitely were not going to be able to listen to most stuff.鈥� 鈥� Melody Cook

She didn鈥檛 think early on that college was an option because, like her limited exposure to music, she was taught college was a place of destructive and damaging influences. Instead, she spent most of her 20s doing mission work in Moscow and Siberia before moving to Orlando in 2012.

She was making minimum wage in a kitchen, hardly clocking enough hours to support herself, when the realization hit her 鈥� she did not want to live the rest of her life this way.

鈥淚 knew that [restrictive] lifestyle wasn鈥檛 what I wanted and what I believed anymore. If I was going to pursue something that I really loved, then I felt I should get an education,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o I thought, what would I do if I could do anything?鈥�

The answer: art or music.

She enrolled at Valencia College with the goal of transferring to 麻豆原创 through the program and cried with joy when Valencia Professor Alan Gerber told her she had what it took to pursue music. To her, those tears were proof she had pinpointed her passion and future path.

As a result, her world has opened up exponentially.

An Introduction to Bon Jovi and Black Sabbath

Cook says she had a steep learning curve to try to catch up to her classmates. She took a jazz theory class at 麻豆原创 and spent hours listening to W麻豆原创 89.9 FM on car rides to train her ear to the new sounds.

She is enrolled in 麻豆原创鈥檚 analysis of hard rock and heavy metal course. She never knew M枚tley Cr眉e existed until a couple months ago. She says Black Sabbath is a little intense. She heard Bon Jovi鈥檚 Livin鈥� on a Prayer for the first time when her class discussed glam rock.

鈥淚鈥檓 really happy that I鈥檓 learning about it. At the same time, it鈥檚 really stressful. Every moment that I鈥檓 listening to it I have to say to myself, 鈥業t鈥檚 OK. You don鈥檛 have to feel guilty about listening to it,鈥� 鈥� she says. 鈥淚 love that I鈥檓 getting to listen to it myself and make my own opinion on which ones I like and which ones I don鈥檛 like.鈥�

鈥淚 love that I鈥檓 getting to listen to it myself and make my own opinion on which ones I like and which ones I don鈥檛 like.鈥� 鈥� Melody Cook

She says she doesn鈥檛 have any particular favorites. Because there鈥檚 so much she hasn鈥檛 heard, she tries to listen to something new every day.

鈥淪o far I haven鈥檛 found a whole lot that I don鈥檛 like,鈥� she says. 鈥淓ven Black Sabbath 鈥� even though it鈥檚 really out there and intense 鈥� I find it鈥檚 appropriate for certain emotions. If I was really mad or really stressed, it might be just the thing to listen to.鈥�

麻豆原创 Assistant Professor Alexander Burtzos, her current composition instructor, describes Cook as an ideal student. He says we all grow up in our own musical bubble to some extent, and all that really matters is whether we have the determination to break out of it.

鈥淢elody聽is a voracious listener who鈥檚 equally open to Renaissance polyphony, 20th century dodecaphony, speed metal 鈥� and everything in between.聽She quickly absorbs each new piece she hears, eventually incorporating it into her own singular musical language,鈥� he says. 鈥淢elody聽is interested in pushing boundaries. Her pieces are often built around strong central ideas. I have no idea what the future holds for her. But whatever it is, I know she鈥檒l be successful at it.鈥�

Learning Through Loss

In the immediate future, at least, she will have her senior recital April 21 when she will lead a performance of a compilation of her work, and she expects to graduate with honors in May.

Her recital will include the composition Loss, which she debuted and conducted at 麻豆原创 Celebrates the Arts on April 7.

She first composed Loss as a way to grieve the death of her grandmother, the last of her surviving grandparents. She was unable to attend the funerals of her other three grandparents, but she made it to this one and wrote the piece as a tribute to all four of them.

She continued to tinker with the piece 鈥� which does feature a drum kit 鈥� before she really got serious about polishing it after the opportunity arose to contribute something for the New Music Ensemble concert at 麻豆原创 Celebrates the Arts.

Burtzos says 尝辞蝉蝉听is composed in a style that is quite different from Cook鈥檚 usual aesthetic 鈥� it’s tonal, sorrowful, melodious, and to his ears, seems grounded in the folk music of Russia and Eastern Europe. He says he admires her ability and willingness to embrace different sounds and styles in her music.

As for Cook, she is pleased with the way the piece turned out and the journey it took to get it there. At one point, she had composed it in her head for a full orchestra, even though she had never experienced an orchestral performance. Knowing what she knows now from her studies, she says the balance would have been completely off and it would have sounded horrible.

“This is a chance for me to honor and remember my grandparents and to express those feelings that I have a hard time expressing.鈥� 鈥� Melody Cook

Ultimately, she is most pleased because she feels that the ones she wrote it for would appreciate her work.

鈥淚 think they would really like the piece. This is a chance for me to honor and remember my grandparents and to express those feelings that I have a hard time expressing,鈥� she says. 鈥淎ll of my grandparents were very artistic and creative and really valued creativity and art. My mother鈥檚 parents met in an art school. I think they would be really proud of me and pleased that I鈥檓 studying the arts and doing something with it.鈥�

After she graduates, Cook wants to continue to teach piano lessons, develop her music studio and write music she can share with the world. And now that college has opened the door to so many new experiences, she never wants to stop pursuing new challenges and opportunities for personal growth.

鈥淚鈥檝e learned a lot about music, a lot about culture and society. In every area of life I feel like I鈥檝e really grown a lot,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no way that I could have done that without having come here. It wouldn鈥檛 have happened.鈥�

As a child, Shuler鈥檚 summer breaks from school were spent with her grandmother, a retired nurse. Shuler was fascinated by a nursing kit she kept in the house that had a stethoscope, thermometer and other medical equipment.

鈥淪he still comes to a lot of the home games and sits behind the bench. It鈥檚 a really good feeling to be able to look at the stands and see her,鈥� Shuler says.

With a bachelor’s degree in health sciences already under her belt, the Orlando native and interdisciplinary studies graduate student has started every game this season for the Knights, who are off to their best start in the Division I era and receiving votes in the national polls. With a 17-3 record, including 6-1 in American Athletic Conference play, 麻豆原创 is currently second in the league鈥檚 standings, behind only No. 3 UConn.

When did you know you wanted to become a Division I student-athlete?

In high school (Edgewater), we were cleaning out the garage and I found these old scrapbooks of my dad and my mom from their playing days. I realized, wow my parents were really good at basketball. It was that moment in the garage that motivated me to put in the extra work to get better and get a scholarship.

What do you think it will be like when your basketball career is done?

My mom talks to me every day about it: 鈥淵ou have to remember, your games are numbered.鈥� Basketball has given me confidence and a competitive nature. It鈥檚 motivating to be around other women who are strong. I鈥檓 trying to mentally prepare myself for when it鈥檚 all over. I am going to take an MCAT course because I want to go to medical school, but I鈥檓 probably going to take a gap year first. I need experience in the work force, and I鈥檝e never had a job in my life, so it鈥檚 going to be interesting to see how that goes. But for now, I鈥檓 focused on playing every game like it鈥檚 my last. I want to be able the leave the program on a good note. We want to turn it into a top 25 program. I hope Knight Nation will keep coming out to support us. That would be really great. They make such a difference.

Who is a better shot blocker: You or 麻豆原创 men’s basketball 7-foot-6 center Tacko Fall?

It鈥檚 interesting because I don鈥檛 think either one of us really jump to block shots. Statistics-wise he has more, but I think I have him beat on technique. (Note: Shuler, who stands 6-feet tall, ranks among the 麻豆原创 women’s top 10 for career blocks while Fall owns the school record for career blocks.)

麻豆原创 is your hometown team. What does that mean to you?

That was part of the reason why I came here. It was to stay home and build something here. And it鈥檚 not just me who thinks that way. I have been watching [junior guard and teammate] Kay Kay Wright play since the eighth grade. [Men鈥檚 basketball senior guard] BJ Taylor is from Orlando. We鈥檝e had football players from Orlando. I think we鈥檙e doing a really good job of getting people to come here. This is our city so why not try to build it up and be the best?

If you could give yourself advice when you were a freshman in 2014, what would it be?

鈥淧erseverance is key.鈥� That first year was really hard for me. I was so excited to play college basketball and then I got injured and basketball was basically taken away from me for the next eight months. I had to find other things that made me happy because I wasn鈥檛 able to play the game I love so much.

What makes you happy?

School. And Netflix. My teammates and I watch shows together. We鈥檝e been watching a show called You. I just finished one called Somewhere Between. I so excited for the sequel to To All the Boys I鈥檝e Loved Before. (Freshman forward) Brittany Smith and I are going to watch it. [Women’s basketball forward Tolulope Omokore] and I have been watching Grey鈥檚 Anatomy. That鈥檚 probably one of my favorite shows of all time. I鈥檝e seen every season. Derrick鈥檚 death hurt me so much. I stopped watching after his death for a couple months and then I was finally able to get over it and start watching again. I get connected to the characters so when they die or go off the show, I feel like part of me is just gone.

The 麻豆原创 women鈥檚 basketball team鈥檚 next game is Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. against Houston at CFE Arena. The first 1,000 fans will receive a mini Knugget bobblehead.

A face that stood out enough to make it to ESPN and even become the most-liked Instagram posts on the @麻豆原创Knights account, amassing more than 26,000 likes between two separate videos by Oct. 4. His mug earned more likes than the Knights鈥� Peach Bowl win, Knightro鈥檚 latest dance video and Shaquem Griffin鈥檚 draft in the NFL.

By now, if you鈥檝e been watching this season鈥檚 games, you know, or should know, it鈥檚 鈥淭he Stare-Down Kid,鈥� a young man who blankly and intensely looked into the video-board camera without blinking or smiling during the Sept. 21 game against Florida Atlantic University.

What you probably don鈥檛 know is who he is.聽Anthony Allan is a first-year civil engineering major who had no idea that by trying to be funny in the moment, he鈥檇 turn into a viral phenomenon.

During the Sept. 29 game against the University of Pittsburgh, Allan solidified his GOAT (greatest of all time) status by repeating his camera stare-down, but this time he took it to the next level by having his friends hold large cut-outs of his emotionless face as they crowded around him.

When he鈥檚 not watching 麻豆原创 football games, Allan attends classes, plays soccer on the weekends at the intramural fields 鈥� and in between gets called a 鈥渓egend鈥� by strangers on campus (which even happened during this interview.)

Here, Allan shares more about himself and what it鈥檚 like to be one of the most recognizable faces at 麻豆原创.

Why did you come to 麻豆原创?

I had lived in Gainesville for 15 years, so I didn鈥檛 really feel like going to UF because I had been there for so long. The [麻豆原创] engineering program, the football team, the campus and student life seemed like a great environment and I wanted to be a part of that.

So how did you become 鈥淭he Stare-Down Kid鈥�?

I was sitting with my friend [at the game against FAU] and I noticed the person working the 鈥淔an of the Game鈥� camera and just stared at him to see if he would notice me. He basically signaled to me to wait a minute and he鈥檇 put me on. He did and it just happened and he kept cutting back to me.

I didn鈥檛 know at first I鈥檇 be on there. I was just staring at the camera, and my friend told me I was on the screen and they were all flipping out. But I couldn鈥檛 look away because I was already staring. So I had to keep staring.

Is this something you do all the time?
This is a recent hobby I just picked up 鈥� as of two Saturdays ago.

How do you keep your face straight for so long?
I think about laughing the whole time and my mouth will start twitching to smile, but I know I can鈥檛. When the camera goes off, I just blink, close my eyes, I smile and then I laugh. When it comes back to me I have a straight face.

Has anyone recognized you on campus?
Oh, yeah. I was walking [to the Student Union] and some dude ran from 40 yards away to ask if I was the guy and to take a picture with me. Walking up the stairs, someone stopped me for a photo, too. I鈥檝e had people come up to me and ask for a staring contest, but I鈥檓 actually really bad at staring contests.

I鈥檓 cool with people stopping to say hi or take pictures with me. The most I do is stare into their cameras for them.

I鈥檝e run into a lot of football players outside of the stadium and they would dap me up and say 鈥淵ou鈥檙e the kid!鈥�

What鈥檚 it been like meeting some of the football players?
I just think it鈥檚 so cool. They鈥檙e like, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e the famous kid!鈥� and I鈥檓 like, 鈥淣o, you guys are the famous kids. You play college football.鈥� It鈥檚 just been a wild experience. I met [defensive lineman] Trysten Hill and he was pretty cool.

How did you come up with the idea for using the cut-outs of your face during the game against the University of Pittsburgh last week?
We just knew we had to one-up last time. So I was sitting there with my friends thinking and one of them said, 鈥淲e should do big heads of you.鈥� And I was like, 鈥淭hat sounds great.鈥� So I called a company [to make cut-outs of my face] and to get it done by Friday would have cost $200. So I went and made them myself, which took about four hours.

I got free cardboard from Costco, paint sticks for free from Sherwin-Williams, glue from Walmart, and printed 13-inch by 19-inch photos on campus.

Are you going to continue to try and one-up yourself every home game?
A lot of people have told me, 鈥淵ou have to do it for the rest of the season. You have to go to every home game.鈥� As of right now, I think I鈥檓 expected to keep doing it. I get a kick out of it, my friends get a kick out of it, so why not keep doing it? We’ve got something planned for Saturday’s game against SMU.

Have you always been school spirited?
Yeah, I kind of go all out for that stuff. I鈥檓 the type of person to paint my face and buy $50 worth of beads and throw them out to other students.

What did it feel like to make it on ESPN?
I thought it was the most amazing thing ever. I absolutely flipped out.

What does your family think of this?
I [jokingly] texted my mom the next morning like, 鈥淪o Mom I鈥檓 kind of famous now,鈥� and sent her the pages from the 麻豆原创 Knights Instagram account and ESPN, and she just thought it was the funniest thing. So did my dad and brother.

Is there a goal of how big you want this to get?
When I saw I made it to the 麻豆原创 Knights Instagram page, I thought it was crazy. [At first] all of my friends said if it made it to ESPN we鈥檇 be happy. [Now they] say I have to get on “Ellen.” If I could get on “Ellen” that would be so sick.

One of your most recent posts on Instagram has the caption 鈥渓ittle known fact, I actually like smiling.鈥� How true is that really?
I really am a naturally happy person. I like smiling, so when people ask for a picture I鈥檓 like, 鈥淒ang it, I can鈥檛 smile.鈥�

So what makes you smile?
Hanging out with my friends, having a fun time and 麻豆原创 football games 鈥� contrary to popular belief.