what i know now assistant director
age: 31
hometown: Montevallo, Alabama
career: I currently serve as the Assistant Director of
Undergraduate Admissions at The University of West Alabama.
I travel to various high schools around west-central Alabama
informing students of how they can make their aspirations a
reality by attending UWA. I spend every day telling students
about the opportunities, people, and experiences that UWA
provided to me and shaped my life. I aspire to be a university
Vice President.
a social career
kirstan
cunningham
education: I attended The University of West Alabama,
B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies (Theater and Mathematics).
College was a whirlwind of fun, personal growth and
development, and super busy. I was actively involved in many
student organizations, honor societies, fraternity life, drum
major for our marching band, and even elected Mr. University
of West Alabama. My favorite part of college other than
meeting my wife and getting a great education, was serving
four years as Drum Major for the UWA Scarlet Band from
TigerLand.
growing up: My response in elementary school to
what I wanted to be when I grew up was an actor, doctor, or
engineer. Since my dad worked in the medical field, I wanted
to be a doctor—until I went on a job shadow as a high school
sophomore, saw blood, and learned it wasn't an option.
secret to success: I learned at an early age that nothing
would be handed to me. If I wanted to be successful, I had to
work hard, speak life into the situation, and have a “get it done”
mentality.
major influences: I am blessed to have many. I am
the product of the metaphorical village, and their support,
mentorship, and guidance have helped catapult my success. My
parents taught me that knowing about something and doing
something about it are two different things: aspirations require
action.
Top 5:
1. Cooking delicious food
2. Podcasts
3. Making music
4. Acting
5. Enjoying movies
fun fact:
My best friend and I host the podcast True
Comedy.
advice for parents: Set realistic goals with your
children and challenge them to explore all possible career
options. Allow your children to make mistakes but support
them every step of the way.
advice for teens: It’s okay to be different and not have
everything figured out.
rookie mistakes: I purchased my textbooks prior to
attending my first class. When I attended, I was informed that
the professor didn’t actually use the textbook and just had to list
one for the class. That was a waste of $275.
8 | Fall 2020 www.potentialmagazine.com