Making a Difference. One Student at a Time.

At Starfish, we believe in the power of your work as an academic advisor. Drawing our name from the popular poem "The Star Thrower," we have dedicated ourselves to supporting your efforts to make a difference in the lives of your students, one student at a time.

To celebrate the successes of academic advisors, we are creating an online forum for advisors everywhere to share a story about a student that stands out in their minds. The student that, with the help of an advisor, decided not to drop out. Or, the student that overcame challenges to find success. We call this a "Starfish Story" and we invite you to join us. You will help inspire your fellow advisors and remind us what it's all about.

Featured Starfish Stories

• "Tisha arrived at Georgia Perimeter College (a two-year transfer college) during the fall of 1992, after newly relocating to the Atlanta area, from Ohio, with her family. Tisha had been an athlete in high school and was an average student who was underprepared in the math area. Consequently, she was placed into our remedial math program which she wasn't very happy about. In addition, she was admitted at the last minute and had a very limited schedule her first term as a result of this. Her first experience at GPC was challenging in all respects.

  However, Tisha was able to connect with myself during her first semester as a student. Over time, I not only provided academic advising for Tisha but I mentored Tisha to encourage her in her student success at GPC. I believe it was this mentoring relationship that encouraged Tisha to develop outstanding student involvement and leadership skills at GPC. She eventually became one of my orientation leaders for two years and also became the president of our Student Government during her tenure at GPC. She learned to value academic success during this process and turned her grades from the typical C's to A/B work during her final terms at GPC.

  Tisha became a family friend of ours and we watched her progress to a four-year institution where she continued her leadership as a RA. She graduated with honors with a teaching degree from North Georgia College and State University. She has been teaching in Gwinnett County ever since, a very large urban school district in the Atlanta area where she was recently named the "Teacher of the Year" for her school. She is married to another former student who was also a "Teacher of the Year" that she met at GPC. They have two children who are now directly benefitting from the success attained by their parents.

  I am very proud to say that I feel our mentoring relationship, which turned into a friendship over a 19 year period, has had something to do with the success she has received throughout the years. I am proud to now call Tisha, my former advisee, my friend! Advisors can make a lasting impact on students and Tisha is just one example of this important relationship."

  Emily Cowdrick
  Student Affairs Counselor
  Georgia Perimeter College
  Advisor for 25 years

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• "I met Melissa while working for a program that targets low-income parents. She had and abrasive attitude and was extremely under-prepared academically. Even after her demeanor towards me softened, I feared that Melissa would not succeed at becoming a nurse. Given the challenging nature of that certificate on our campus, getting accepted to the program was enough of a long-shot for anyone.

  I try to ensure that all students leave my office with a plan. Melissa surprised me by actually following advice – a rarity. Many of my colleagues were skeptical about her prospects, but Melissa's determination was difficult for me to ignore.

  Melissa's biggest obstacles were ones that I couldn't help her with, but I listened to her and strove to match her level of persistence. We only discussed that which could be improved. Melissa spent a difficult year developing her academic skills, motivated by steady but slow improvement. Recently, Melissa was accepted into the nursing program, and she is truly succeeding. Many better prepared students cannot say as much, and I could not be prouder.

  This story is more about one determined student than it is about anything I have done, but Melissa continues to outperform most of her peers, and we make decisions together because I provide positive suggestions and listen when no one else does. I wish I could devote the same amount of myself to every student, but at least I helped this one starfish find its way to the ocean."

  Academic Advisor
  Two-Year Community College
  Advisor for 3 years