If anyone knows what it’s like to embrace uncertainty, it’s Taylor Parsons. Back in 2020, Taylor started her college career at East Tennessee State University, amid COVID-19 and the sudden passing of her father. Taylor felt called to study at ETSU just like her father did and knew it would all work out to follow in his footsteps.
And work out it did – Taylor graduated from ETSU in 2024 with a bachelor’s in political science, a minor in communicative disorders, and years of experience with the Preview and Orientation Leader Organization (POLO), Health Occupations Students of America, the Student Government Association, The Well campus ministry and several pageantry competitions.
“I was a COVID-19 freshman and knew during an uncertain time I wanted to stay close
to home,” shared Taylor. “I had to ‘grow up’ quite a bit and quite fast during my
freshman year. I had the opportunities, the people and the organizations to join that
amplified my goals and dreams I had for myself throughout sophomore to senior year.”
Initially, Taylor began at ETSU as a pre-health major but switched to political science
because of her love for history and learning about the legal system. She chose to
minor in communicative disorders to retain some sort of rehabilitative health science
background if her path led her back one day.
“I know ETSU has highly accredited professors in the political science department
and after hearing about professors such as Dr. Crumley and Dr. Glennon, I knew I would
be challenged academically. I love to learn and knew this would be a good fit for
me,” said Taylor.
“I love to learn and knew ETSU would be a good fit for me.”
- Taylor Parsons
She also learned a lot from her time as a POLO leader, receiving powerful lessons in community and leadership.
Today, Taylor works as an event planner and coordinator for a state-wide political
organization, using the skills she picked up from her degree at ETSU. This spring,
she was crowned Miss Food City 2025.
Even in her hobbies like pageantry, Taylor looks for ways to combine her skills with
her formal education to become her best self: “I’ve learned how to look the part in
my dress, walk the part in my confidence and be the part in my interview and public
speaking skills.”
As for new students that are nervous to start out in college like she was, Taylor
has some advice.
“I would tell them that it’s okay to take their time when making a big decision of
what they want to be or what they want to do. I’d tell them that it’s okay not to
know what you want to be but to take every opportunity presented to you to figure
out your niche!”
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