Emily McGee wasn’t even going to apply.

McGee, an Oklahoma State University sophomore, didn’t take a traditional path to Stillwater. After graduating from high school, she chose to serve in the military as a chance to get away from home and grow. A few years later, she had her daughter, Raven, and all her priorities changed.

A college education had always felt distant, but now it seemed completely unattainable. McGee began to doubt her own potential.

It took a conversation with her mentor a few months before leaving the Marine Corps to challenge her mindset. She decided to take the chance.

“I applied to OSU and told myself that if I was accepted and received enough financial aid to make it possible, I would go,” McGee said. “Thankfully, both of those dreams came true, and it changed my life.”

Being a Cowboy fills McGee with an indescribable sense of pride every time she steps on campus. She grew up cheering on OSU and has passed that on to Raven, 4, who is now Pistol Pete and Bullet’s biggest fan.

Still, managing life as an OSU student and mom hasn’t always been easy.

During her first semester, McGee struggled to find herself. She felt selfish for taking money and time away from her family, and she worried she had made a mistake.

She had great admiration for her sociology professor, Dr. Farshid Jahanshahi, because of her passion and decided to confide in her. Jahanshahi took time to sit down with McGee to share her own story, harsh truths and inspiring words.

Once again, a mentor set McGee on the right track.

“I was on the verge of dropping out because I felt so lost, but that conversation made me feel seen in a way I never had,” McGee said. “Dr. Jahanshahi gave me the courage and motivation to keep going, and I'm so incredibly grateful for her wisdom and time. And she’s continued to always make herself available.”

To McGee, it’s the people who make OSU special. She has built a great community through the OSU Military Affiliated Organization, professors and friends, making it truly feel like home. Raven even attends preschool on campus at the Cleo L. Craig Child Development Lab.

Her scholarships have made that all possible — allowing her to attend school full time while still supporting her daughter.

“My scholarships grant me the opportunity and stability to change my future for my family,” McGee said. “Knowing that others believe in me enough to invest in my future motivates me to keep going even on my hardest days. I hope I'm able to pay it forward in a way that uplifts my community.”

A sociology major, McGee wants to make a difference by helping people who struggle with addiction.

That developed from a young age as she watched friends and family grapple with substance abuse. It gave her the empathy and understanding that drives her desire to help others.

McGee’s life goal is to help change that narrative around addiction by creating a supportive environment where people can heal and grow stronger while being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

There will be more twists and turns on that path, but she’s proud of the route she’s taken.

“Our paths change because we change,” McGee said. “Every detour and closed door will shape you into someone who understands others in unique and beautiful ways.

“I want my daughter to grow up seeing empathy turned into action and pain turned into purpose.”

Photos by: Bryanna Freer

Story by: Grant Ramirez | STATE Magazine