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As a first-generation college student, Dr. Victoria Hightower didn't know what she wanted to study. So, she followed her parents' advice.

"I went to college to be a nurse because my parents thought it was important to have a degree that directly corresponded to a specific job," she said. "I ended up changing majors a few times."

Hightower also worked several jobs as a college student. They included waitress, bartender, event planner, receptionist, peer advisor, library assistant, and hosiery specialist. She gained skills at each.

"I learned how to turn something that sucks — and every job sucks once in a while — and make it meaningful or useful. That is the key to success," Hightower said. "It means you recognize your own capacity to change and grow. That more than anything else is the most important lesson of leadership."

Now, Hightower helps students learn and grow at the University of North Georgia (ÌìÃÀÉçÇø).

As a professor in the Department of History, Anthropology and Philosophy, she educates students about world civilizations, including her specialty of Middle East history. Hightower has stacks of research and first-hand knowledge to share because of her study abroad trips to Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. She earned scholarships to go abroad as an undergraduate and a graduate student.

"These trips transformed my life," she said. "No one back then really talked about culture shock or prepared me for the shock of re-entry. However, I had mentors and friends who each time helped me through it."

Hightower helps ÌìÃÀÉçÇø students apply for scholarships to study abroad or pursue their own research as assistant director of the National Competitive Scholarships (NCS) Office. She also serves as the NCS Corps of Cadets liaison and corps faculty advocate.

"I specialize in scholarships that help students study critical languages or go abroad," she said. "I gravitate toward service that directly impacts students, because I believe in paying it forward."

Hightower has paid it forward. During her time with NCS, the university has had several students win prestigious scholarships such as the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, the David L. Boren Scholarship, and Critical Language Scholarship program.

Hightower also encourages students to participate in undergraduate research projects through the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. In this extracurricular activity, she practices what she preaches.

"My research helps me become a better teacher not only by introducing me to new ideas and content, but by evaluating how others teach, how they make arguments, what they draw evidence and how they make sense of their data," she said. "It helps me guide my students as they struggle to learn the skills that history teaches."

Hightower also teaches her students how to grow from failure.

"Failure does not come from not succeeding. Failure comes from not learning. I try to 'fail better' every time I do it," she said. "The most important lesson of college is that you can keep learning and growing."