Student Profiles

ASUMH Students Bring Diversity of Thought, Experience to Campus

by DWAIN HEBDA

Massachusetts transplant finds a home

One look at his long list of campus leadership positions tells you how completely Arkansas transplant Matthew Reposa feels at home at ASUMH.

Reposa has been a part of the Fran Coulter Honors Program, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, served as Phi Beta Lambda vice president, was elected Student Government Association president and currently works in the campus admissions department.

“I just think if you’re going to do something, then you should do it,” he said. “All the different experiences have been helpful — learning how to work with people in different team settings. There are a lot of soft skills I built here that will translate into any career. They were all good learning experiences.

“One thing that helped me be so active was faculty encouragement. They made it easy to participate in activities.

First-gen student Juarez excels

Ever since Anette Juarez came to the United States at the age of four, attending college has been seen as a landmark moment in the family’s history, a goal she attained in 2021. She credited ASU-Mountain Home’s attention to the challenges facing firstgeneration college students for creating an environment in which she can excel.

“ASUMH was more flexible, and as a first-generation student, I received more help from professors and a lot of other people here as well because it’s a very small community,” said Juarez, who’s studying biochemistry. “People here are very nice and willing to help me. Financially, it’s a better option, and it’s allowed me to get to know people more easily and get involved.”

Juarez has taken advantage of her opportunities on campus. In addition to her studies through the prestigious Fran Coulter Honors Program, she’s also a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the campus Gay/Straight Alliance club. She sees her involvement in such organizations as important parts of her overall education and growth as a person.

“I took advantage of those clubs and organizations to improve our campus and to improve myself as a future leader,” she said. “I want to be involved as much as I can and learn as I go. Meeting new people, learning about their past experiences, backgrounds and where they come from helps me apply my leadership skills to make the campus a better place for all students.

“That was important to me as a first-generation college student, and I want that to be the experience of all students. I just want our campus to say, ‘We welcome everyone.’”

Anette Juarez

Matthew Reposa

They made it easy for me to find the different organizations that I could participate in.”

Reposa came to Arkansas after having already attended two-year schools back east. He said ASU-Mountain Home stacks up favorably to those institutions, and then some.

“The national recognition awards ASU-Mountain Home has won for quality at the community college level definitely stood out. I wasn’t apprehensive about going to school here at all,” he said. “Having the ability to transfer to bigger state schools from here was definitely another plus.”

Asked what advice he’d have for someone considering the school, Reposa doesn’t hesitate.

“As long as you’re willing to work hard, ASU-Mountain Home definitely has the academic resources, the groups, the faculty to help make a college degree something that’s a lot more feasible than people initially think,” he said.

Mathis personifies informed advocacy

Many students pass through ASU-Mountain Home studying in fields to bring hope and healing to people. Few feel this vocation as personally as Ashton Mathis.

Mathis, who is studying to earn her associate of arts en route to becoming a psychologist, has already been through situations in her life that give her a perspective on abuse, addiction and mental illness most of her classmates don’t have.

“I came to ASU-Mountain Home from Care Center Ministries, a faith-based rehabilitation center,” she said. “I went to them for help, and I came out on the other side successful. And that’s where I found my passion for psychology, when I was broken with those other women wanting to be restored to myself and to society.

“Therefore, I can relate to what patients are going through. I grew up in a family where mental health issues and substance abuse were prevalent. Now that I myself have recovered, I believe anybody can do that. It’s not impossible. And so, I have a passion to push people to believe inside of themselves.”

These life experiences, which Mathis sees as so valuable in creating bonds of trust with her future patients, open the door for the skills and knowledge she’s gaining in the ASUMH program.

“A lot of people I trust spoke very highly of this university,” she said. “Now that I’m here, I love the school. It’s a great school; it’s local, it was convenient. It’s a smaller school, so the teachers are able to help you with a lot more things. They address the stuff that needs to be addressed while also ensuring no one is overlooked.” ■