Student Spotlight: Self-Discovery and Taylor Swift
By Tenley Baxter
Southern Virginia University is home to a large diversity of students, each with their own story and journey leading them to Shenandoah Valley. Hannah Husted (’26) came to Southern Virginia University with the hope of finding a place where she could appreciate personalized academics. She transferred as a junior from Brigham Young University to experience smaller class sizes, a better relationship with professors, and a smaller student body. Hannah felt that the charm of SVU suited what she was looking for in an education.
In August 2023, Hannah started attending SVU. She immersed herself in the campus community. When she began her first semester here, she studied with the intellectual Honors program and led with the council, she sang and performed with the lovely voices of Bella Voce, and she worked to preserve SVU’s unique history as Historian of the Southern Virginia Student Association.
Hannah’s warm presence and bold personality quickly became appreciated by her peers and professors. Her honest humor has been undaunted by the academic and financial struggles of being a college student. She loves to joke with her colleagues:
“I will never financially recover from this.”
Last semester, Hannah was planning to pursue a degree in political science with a concentration on pre-law to support her dream of becoming a lawyer specializing in protecting women and immigration rights. She has always been boldly willing to confront controversy and contribute to finding solutions to complicated issues. She notes that her favorite class so far at SVU was Reason and the Self with Dr. Gessel “because of his teaching style and willingness to address contentious topics”.
While she is still passionate about law, she has experienced enlightenment regarding the way she wants to contribute to our society. This spring semester, Hannah has started on a new path: majoring in Spanish accompanied by a teaching license in spanish. Hannah aims to work as a public school Spanish teacher, bringing her ambition to create a positive learning experience and inspire the next generation.
Her bucket list includes meeting her idol, Taylor Swift. She is an ultimate Swiftie, owning plenty of T-Swizzle merchandise and even theming her recent 22nd birthday party after Taylor’s Era’s Tour. Hannah lives by the motto “If a man talks shit then I owe him nothing.” She considers herself a classical feminist and praises Taylor Swift’s social impact on establishing equality. She aspires to become a similar positive figure in society.
She has passion for serving the community she lives in. Hannah is a Residential Advisor at SVU and appreciates the relationships and experience she has gained with her residents. She also volunteers at the Parry McCluer High School in the 8th and 9th grade classes and enjoys her time there. Hannah is excited about the self-discovery she has experienced recently and enthusiastic about establishing her foundation at Southern Virginia University.
