Kailee Hughes ’24 made the decision to come to Guilford in large part because of its size. Coming from a large high school in Raleigh, she wanted her next educational experience to be different. She was looking for a close-knit community where she could make strong connections and forge new friendships.

During her four years at the College, Kailee found just what she was looking for and more.

“One of the things that has meant the most to me during my time at Guilford are the friendships I’ve made, not only with people in my graduating class, but with students in every class, as well as my co-workers and my professors,” says Kailee.

One way Kailee bonded with so many people was through her work as a peer mentor, an orientation leader and a counselor at Summer Bridge or Level Up. Kailee got to work with rising freshmen and sophomores. “I got to help them find ways to make the most of their Guilford College experience, and now I love that I have so many friends that are in different classes,” Kailee says. She also enjoyed getting to help other people and make sure their experience at Guilford was positive, just like others who helped her along the way.

While the small size of Guilford College helped Kailee find a strong community, she never felt  limited in learning and exploring new things. As an honors student, she had the opportunity to travel with her cohort, and Kailee chose to experience the magic of Disney World for five days. “We were there not just as visitors, but to learn about the ‘why’ behind the magic,” Kailee says. “We got to see behind the scenes of how they make an immersive experience for guests, we saw how the rides work, and got to see the work that goes into designing the parks.”

For Kailee, the experience helped give her a better understanding of marketing and tourism. It also gave her a chance to really bond with the other students who went on the trip. Being together for an intense period of study with a small cohort is one of the unique advantages of Guilford College’s three-week classes that come at the end of every spring semester.

Degree in hand, Kailee plans to attend graduate school at North Carolina A&T University, where she will pursue a master’s degree in health psychology. She’s interested in a career as a counselor, and this program appeals to her because of its emphasis on working with clients.

As a psychology major, Kailee feels well prepared for the challenges of graduate school. “So many of my psychology classes at Guilford were discussion based, and I feel like that really gave me more confidence in myself,” Kailee says. “It’s given me the ability to ask my professors for help when I need it and feel comfortable working with them to learn and do research.”

Kailee also feels the practice of writing a senior honors thesis was a good experience going into graduate school. Her topic covered the challenges of navigating ADHD through the developmental lens from childhood into adulthood, looking at how it can affect you throughout your lifespan when diagnosed versus undiagnosed.

“I really appreciate the opportunity I had at Guilford to do research in my field, and I know it will help me as a graduate student,” Kailee says.