Photo by Michael Frazier
By Aureliz Roman and Almir Memic | July 8, 2026
This past Thursday, July 2, Scholars had the opportunity to attend a second session of ‘This GSP Life”. The GSP office staff and resident advisors imparted words of wisdom, shared future advice for scholars, and told unique stories. Our Resident Advisors (RAs) play such a crucial part in scholars’ lives, and that’s what made ‘This GSP Life’ so special.
From RA Sam, we learned that he’s an avid Dr. Pepper stan, even when he went through his not-so memorable phases of orange or lime soda. In all seriousness, RA Sam—a queer, arts-loving man—used his experience in Greek life to show Scholars that a sudden curiosity that sparked change was exciting, fun, and necessary. While RA Sam was in his fraternity, he told how he enlightened his fellow brothers on the acceptance of pride, and how his brotherhood was one of the best times of his college memories.
“Change is exciting. Challenge it,” RA Sam said, encompassing the message of his speech.
As scholars, we often worry about having a sense of belonging in a new environment, but RA Hayden was able to share his story of “Belonging at GSP.”
RA Hayden was a Governor’s Scholar in 2023 at Murray State, and he shared his experience with what we know as a ‘GSBae’, but to what he referred to as his ‘leadership huzz’.
Hayden shared that his hometown (Morehead, KY) had always been unaccepting of same-sex marriages, and had never been open-minded to the matter. This news scared Hayden into hiding who he really was for years, but GSP changed that. On his last night of the program, he let his true self become a part of the community, a community where he felt heard, safe, and loved. RA Hayden’s message to the community is that, whether it be the first week or the very last day of GSP, let your true self in.
RA Kailey connected with the Scholars by bringing up a relatable fear for a smart, dedicated, and driven group of people: rejection. RA Kailey shared her various experiences with rejection, and how it wasn’t the end of the world, despite what the majority of people thought. She was denied from her dream school, rejected by five different prom dates, and lost scholarship and job opportunities, but declared that all those hardships were for the better.
RA Kailey detailed how her rejections didn’t define her, because no one saw her turndowns or thought less of her.
“Take risks and embrace rejection,” RA Kailey said. She clarified that although it was hard, she understands that everything happens for a reason, and to this day, wouldn’t change a thing.
RA Liz began her speech with another topic that the Scholars were familiar with: ‘math people’ vs. ‘English people’. RA Liz explained that during her high school years, she did not have an inclination toward mathematics. It simply did not ‘click’ in her mind. In fact, an old teacher of hers directly told her that she “wasn’t a math person.”
However, during her junior year, she took pre-calculus, where she was introduced to new ways of learning and understanding that she excelled in. Her pre-calculus teacher urged her to take AP Calculus her senior year. Liz was completely enlightened throughout her senior year AP Calculus class and changed her perspective to become a math person. RA Liz added that she now has degrees in both math and education. Her message to the scholars was to give things another chance, because you never know what could surprise you.
With RA Rylee’s speech, she introduced a vulnerable topic for not only herself but for silent, struggling scholars as well.
Identity is such a crucial part of a person’s way of life, and Rylee shared her struggle with finding who “Rylee” really was.
RA Rylee recalled a specific time during her childhood when she felt forced to pick between two identities: the “troublemaker” or the “golden child,” both stemming from her brothers. Rylee was called to be like her “golden child” brother because of the praise he got, and believed that the real Rylee had to be hidden in order to get that praise that she longed for. Then one day, the person she looked up to the most wasn’t the person she wanted to be. It was difficult for RA Rylee to fully forget her once biggest inspiration, who had outlined her entire identity for her, but letting go of that person was the stepping stone that Rylee needed to find her true self.
RA Rylee mentioned that she was a Governor’s Scholar in 2023 at Morehead State, and that was when her real personality blossomed, because of the opportunities given through GSP. She also stated that the GSP is where she met her life-long friend and freshman year roommate, Carly, by simply being ‘Rylee’.
“Let the people around you leave a little piece of themselves with you, and you leave a little piece of you with them,” RA Rylee said.
RA Emma shared her GSP experience next. She applied to the Governor Scholar’s Program like many of her friends had done.. When she received her letter from GSP, it stated she was selected as an alternate. If someone was unable to attend GSP, she would be on the list for contact. It felt like a failure for her, but later she received the opportunity to join the GSP at Morehead. As she arrived on Morehead’s campus, her excitement turned to fear, and fear turned to dread. However, RA Emma ended up meeting her favorite person at the GSP; coincidentally, also named Emma. She would find out that Emma was supposed to be on vacation but had been called to join GSP, like her. As the program continued, RA Emma felt more confident, didn’t feel alone, and grew as a person, ending up loving the GSP.
RA Emma said, “There’s always someone who has faith in you. You just have to be and be there for others.”
RA Rina shared advice surrounding her experience with singing. RA Rina’s favorite movie was Pitch Perfect (2012), directed by Jason Moore. For a long time, she wanted to get into an A capella group. She applied to Cornell University and was accepted. Over the following summer, she poured her heart into vocal practice. At auditions for the variety of Cornell’s A capella groups, she sang her heart out. She sang eight times with two callbacks for each A capella group. She was not accepted into any of the groups during her first year, but was accepted in her second year. RA Rina rehearsed for nine hours every week, and convinced herself that she was living out her dream. However, after her first show, she quit Cornell’s chorus due to time constraints and lack of enjoyment.
“When something causes you pain, get rid of it,” RA Rina said.
RA Preston shared a story that he told as a scholar at GSP-Centre. The story eventually became his college essay, which got him accepted into Columbia University. When he went to the doctor’s office at age 13, he was asked to provide a urine sample. After filling up the cup, he didn’t know what to do, and made the mistake of turning around. It took him an “embarrassingly long time” to realize what he had done, and he ended up peeing on three of the four bathroom walls. He cleaned up the restroom, scrubbing the walls and getting rid of the evidence.
“It felt like an eternity,” RA Preston said. When he flushed the ‘evidence’, the toilet overflowed , and the restroom flooded.
When he was a scholar at Centre GSP, he gave a speech on this moment and hoped his peers would empathize. Instead, he received the nickname ‘PP Preston.’ However, he met people throughout the program who felt comfortable sharing their embarrassing experiences, too.
“I became vulnerable with the audience, and they became more vulnerable with me,” Preston said.
RA Ethan shared his experience preparing to be a resident advisor at GSP. Before scholars arrived, RA Ethan wanted to make sure things went smoothly. He planned out his leadership seminars, and made sure to get first aid equipment along with other necessities.
“I thought to prepare more, and I could be ready for anything,” RA Ethan said.
However, a person can’t be 100% prepared for anything. RA Ethan worried he would be unable to fulfill the responsibilities of a resident advisor. He wondered how his parents were able to take care of him, and how they could possibly be prepared for everything. He eventually came to the realization that they weren’t prepared for everything, they were just prepared to adapt and problem-solve.
RA Ethan told scholars, “Be able to take upon new tasks when they come…one step at a time.”
RA Jackie shared advice surrounding friendship and making meaningful memories.
Before she started college, RA Jackie was nervous and excited but eager to cultivate friendships. She signed up for a summer program at a log cabin, which served as a crash course to meet new people before arriving on campus. After meeting some people, she was optimistic about the relationships, and was ready to have fun.
However, she overheard a few girls saying cruel things about another person.
RA Jackie began to question their characters. She was conflicted between values and authenticity.
“You are who you band with,” RA Jackie said.
She formed a relationship with a girl named Aniya, and became good friends with her. RA Jackie stated the importance of quality over quantity in relationships.
RA Jackie encouraged scholars to spend time with those who align with their values, citing the importance of venturing out and making meaningful memories.
RA Jackie concluded GSPLife, stating, “There’s only so much time in life. Be kind, trustworthy, and genuine.”
