If you want Cole Mills to do something, tell him not to do it.
“When people tell me I can’t achieve something, I want to prove them wrong,” said Mills, senior microbiology student.
After working in two research labs, serving as a teaching assistant for several classes, and being on the verge of graduation, Mills has accepted and just about conquered the challenge that is completing an undergraduate degree. It hasn’t been an easy journey, but rather a formative one, and Mills credits his support system for helping him succeed.
“I would call my mentors friends,” Mills said. “I like working hard, but they made it easy and pleasurable to do.”
His family, all CSU alumni, have provided ample emotional support and encouraged him throughout his educational experience. He also credits his peers from his freshman honor’s hall with providing him space for self-discovery during an academically challenging first year.
Valuing the opportunities he’s been afforded inspires Mills to pay it forward, instilling in him a passion for teaching. Alongside the courses he’s been a teaching assistant for, he also tutors fellow undergraduates in medical bacteriology. Through his teaching experiences, he’s been able to deepen his knowledge on various topics and discover ways to help others learn better.
“I want to galvanize young learners and encourage them that oftentimes when understanding a new subject is difficult it’s not because they didn’t grasp certain concepts, but because it wasn’t presented in a way that was helpful to them,” Mills said.
In the fall, Mills will begin a one-year master’s program in biomedical sciences at CSU, and he’s hoping to better understand what he’s passionate about scientifically. He knows he wants to teach, and has been exposed to a lot of subjects during his undergraduate program, but hasn’t quite identified his niche yet.
With teaching, his favorite part is seeing his pupils succeed, and witnessing that “lightbulb” moment. For Mills, it’s only a matter of time before that lightbulb turns on, illuminating the next steps on his academic path.
“Every student is different, and you have to know what works for them,” Mills said. “No matter what I do, I want to teach so I can continue to empower others.”
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Commencement Information
