Sam Miller

Sam will be attending WVU Law School in the fall.

What is your favorite memory from your time at WVU Tech?

I have one from each year! My freshman year was riding the mechanical bull at Spring Fling. My sophomore year, I got to go to Disney with TRIO. I had never been to Disney before or been on a plane, it was amazing. Junior year was speaking at commencement. I wasn’t very involved in high school, so having to speak in front of that many people was something very new. And then senior year was being named the Arts and Sciences Presidential Leadership Award Winner.

What did you enjoy most about the forensic investigation program?

I didn’t start out in forensic investigation; I actually started out in chemical engineering. So, what I enjoyed most is going to be different than others. I enjoyed taking the hard chemistry classes and applying them practically in a forensic setting. Learning about different chemicals that interact with DNA and blood all fascinated me and getting to do it hands on is mind blowing. I didn’t know I wanted to go to law school until my junior year when I took some criminal justice classes and I got an internship at the Public Defender’s Office and found my calling.

How did Tech prepare you for the future?

The classes I’ve had with Dr. Coroian have definitely prepared me for law school. I’ll bring up concepts to the lawyers I work with that I learned in class and they’ll say “Yes, that’s exactly how you apply that,” and it’s great. Everything I’ve done at Tech has taught me to be more comfortable with myself and what I can do.

Which person at Tech has had the biggest impact on your college experience? How has that person helped you?

I have two: Dean of Students Emily Sands and Assistant Dean of Students Scott Robertson. Emily has taken me under her wing and helped mold me into the leader I am now. She instilled confidence in me and taught me how to speak in public. Scott is the Director of TRIO and the things in the world I’ve got to see because of him are numerous. I’ve got to go to D.C., Florida, Portland, Oregon, just things I never thought I’d ever do. When I came to college I had never been out of West Virginia or been to a city. I went to Nashville with Upward Bound. Learning about different cultures and getting exposed to different stuff has made me a better person.

As a soon-to-be graduate, what is your best advice for incoming students?

It’s ok to change your degree or major from what you originally thought your plan was going to be. If you have to repeat a class, totally fine. The main important thing is don’t quit. Changing is not quitting. And in life, you have to adapt, so this is just another form of adaptation.

What will you miss most about Tech?

I will miss the supportive nature of everybody the most at Tech. Everyone here, from professors, staff and the President, all the way down to student leaders want to see everyone succeed.