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Abbey Mayfield
By Jennifer Tanner | Photos by Bobby Lacey
Unlike many college students, 20-year-old Abbey Mayfield is not afraid of failure. The young optimist, who plans to skydive before the end of the year, said she does not let the possibility of failure limit her potential for success and she would rather try and fail than not try at all.
This attitude has helped her deal with every curve that life has thrown, including the 2004 car accident that caused a severe spinal cord injury, leaving her as a paraplegic.
“No one asks for life to change, but it happens,” she said. “Its what you do afterwards that matters because that’s when you find out who you are.”
In the last four years, Abbey has learned that she is determined and optimistic; that she loves laughing with friends and eating ice cream at 3 a.m.; and that in spite of her disability she hasn’t lost desire to live on the edge of life. She found her passion in speech pathology and dream of working as a speech language pathologist, specializing in brain trauma rehabilitation.
A 2006 honor graduate from Claxton High School, located in the small city of Claxton, Ga., Abbey has also learned what “accessibility” truly means. She now works in the VSU Access Office for Students with Disabilities helping others become more comfortable on campus. As one who personally learned how to adapt and overcome, she is an inspiration to the other students, her friends, her family and everyone who is blessed with the opportunity to meet her.
When she’s not in class or working at the Access Office, Abbey can be found studying on the third floor of Odum Library, dining with friends on the patio at Quizno’s Sub’s in the Palms Retail area, reading, watching movies or just hanging out on the porch with friends at her apartment. While she will miss the close friendships that she has developed at VSU, Abbey said she looks forward to graduation and her future career.
“On bad days, I look back and remember how blessed I am,” she said. “I also look forward to the day when I can to go work and help people put the pieces of their lives back together.”
Academic Year: Junior
Academic Standing or GPA: 3.17
Expected Graduation (semester/year): May 2010
Degree Objective: B.A. in Communications Disorders
Employer: VSU Access Office
Hometown: Claxton, GA
High school: Claxton High School
Academic achievements/awards/recognition and Career Highlights:
High School Class of 2006 Honor Graduate
I chose to attend VSU because… it has a well-known speech pathology program (undergrad and graduate) and I love the campus.
My favorite things to do on campus are… I live off-campus so I’m only on campus when I have work or class but I do like to hang out with friends on the patio at Quizno’s in-between classes.
My favorite place to study is… by a 3rd floor window in a corner of the Odum Library or at my apartment porch.
The most exciting thing I’ve done is… skiing down snow covered mountains in Aspen, Colorado is at the top of the list, followed by moving away from home for college, and spending a week in New York City.
My favorite class was… any of my psychology classes and any class that pertains to my major.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with… an afternoon with someone like Joan of Arc or Esther (from the bible) would be amazing.
If I knew I could not fail, I would… I never think of not failing. I would rather try and fail than not try at all. Failing can be a big motivator sometimes. I’m not going to limit myself to only doing things I’m certain I won’t fail at, half the fun is figuring out how not to fail.
The three words that best describe me are… determined, caring, optimistic
Growing up the person I looked up to the most was… my momma. I never realized quite how much until I moved three hours away from her.
The thing that I will miss the most about college is… the close friendships I’ve developed since freshman year where we watch movies or go get ice cream at 3 AM and laugh at each other’s quirks.
The one VSU experience I will always remember is… freshman dorm life.
After graduation, I plan to… apply for the MA program for SLP at VSU.