Senior Natasha Miller is ending her final year at Manchester College with big plans for her future. Miller is a sociology and psychology double major with dreams of graduate school. She plans to attend the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis, MO., to pursue a Masters in Social Work in social and economic development.

But even with her big plans, Miller is cautious enough to form a backup plan, which is to get her PhD in sociology and become a professor.

“That is something I do want to do one day,” Miller said.

She has also thought of becoming a state senator. Miller is very interested in welfare reform, and wants to be the “start of the reform of the reform of welfare reform.”

Before continuing her education, however, Miller has plans to visit the west coast of Mexico. She also aspires to begin belly dancing classes, take Spanish classes, and possibly take up the cello again.

“My favorite year was definitely senior year because of the great times I had with my bestest friends,” said Miller with a smile in the direction of close friend Patricia Thacker.

During her career at Manchester, Miller was most deeply influenced by Professor Robert Pettit, of the sociology department, Professor Jonathan Watson, of the English department, and Ruth Chananie-Hill, a visiting professor of sociology in the fall of 2007 until the spring of 2008. Miller’s role models include Martin Luther king Jr., her father, Bryan Miller, and her “Grandaddy.”

Miller has always wanted to give a public speech, and if she were to give a speech at graduation, she would like to focus on everything that the degree is really made up of.

“On graduation day we receive a diploma,” Miller says, deciding on the words to express herself with. “That diploma is physically made up of tiny fibers. But you don’t see the fibers, you just see the big picture, the piece of paper. Such is one’s four-year experience at Manchester College made up of tiny events such as activities from staying up all night to write a paper to going to the drag show to afternoons reading your textbooks on the mall. You’ll look back and see the big picture, but you must always remember how it took the little things to make the whole experience.”

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