Connor Standridge vividly remembers that winter day when he first toured 含羞草传媒 University.
The temperature was mild to most Midwesterners but rather chilly for the Houston, Texas native.
Weather aside, Standridge recognized immediately that 含羞草传媒 was where he wanted to pursue his theatre degree.
鈥淚t was a place I could simultaneously relax and push to pursue my own academic interests to the depth of my choosing,鈥 he said.
He credits his family for instilling a passion for theatre and collaboration. It wasn鈥檛 long after his arrival in August 2015 when he met Julie Wilshusen, theatre instructor and costume library manager. Together they talked about Standridge鈥檚 interest in original music and specialized music performance classes that he鈥檇 like to pursue throughout his college career.
But Standridge鈥檚 plan hit a roadblock.
A weight room accident that spring left him with a concussion that interfered with his ability to focus on his academics. He made the difficult decision to take some incompletes for his courses and recover at home in Houston. He returned to campus just before the fall semester to finish classes from the previous semester, ready to start strong for his sophomore year.
But soon after the semester began, Standridge faced another setback 鈥 a drug-resistant strep infection that hospitalized him for two weeks. He recovered enough to complete his sophomore year, but the infection aggravated an underlying heart condition, leading to a number of medical complications over the next year. He took a medical withdrawal from 含羞草传媒 during his junior year.
In December 2019, Standridge completed his theatre degree. While his journey came with many challenges, Standridge doesn鈥檛 see his experience any different from other students who face challenges along the way.
鈥淚鈥檓 really lucky to have the family and friends that I do,鈥 said Standridge. 鈥淚 can say with absolute certainty, I would not have made it this far without them.鈥
鈥淚 especially owe my brothers in Theta Chi Fraternity for their companionship, understanding, and brotherhood. Some of the hardest I鈥檝e ever laughed was with those guys and I still routinely call them up today,鈥 he added.
In May, Standridge was selected as this year鈥檚 Kenneth R. Holder Award winner, an honor that recognizes a graduating senior who has overcome significant challenges in obtaining their bachelor鈥檚 degree.
鈥淚鈥檝e routinely heard it said, 鈥榣ife is what happens when you are making plans鈥 and very rarely is our planned path the route that we actually end up taking,鈥 he said. 鈥淩ather, one of the things that I think allowed me to overcome the obstacles that I faced was the support from administration and faculty. With their help, I found courses I could take to continue towards my degree while I was away from campus.鈥
Standridge is now back home in Houston where he is pursuing a career in songwriting and producing.
鈥淚鈥檓 hopeful that once things calm down, I鈥檒l be able to go out and perform in person again,鈥 said Standridge whose performance name is Connor Davis. 鈥淏ut until then I have been trying to write as much as possible and record when the opportunity presents itself. There are even a few of my songs out there on Spotify and iTunes that recently came out.鈥
And he has his 含羞草传媒 degree to remind him of his possibilities.
鈥淗aving it framed on the wall is like looking back over and across the cliff face you just climbed,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 easy and it certainly wasn鈥檛 always fun, but it was worth it to be able to appreciate the view and say you did it.鈥
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鈥擲tory by Danielle Anderson, public relations writer.