{"id":76046,"date":"2026-05-03T08:35:49","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T12:35:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/?p=76046"},"modified":"2026-05-14T14:22:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T18:22:02","slug":"a-graduating-students-unconventional-path-at-utc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/a-graduating-students-unconventional-path-at-utc\/","title":{"rendered":"A graduating student\u2019s unconventional path at UTC"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Emma

Brock Scholar Emma Roy poses in cap and gown near the Guerry Center. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

Emma Roy is set to walk across the stage at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s commencement this week after a very unconventional undergraduate journey. From studying abroad in England and twice in Taiwan, Roy\u2019s UTC experience has been marked by academic pivots, global exploration and the courage to step outside her comfort zone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really excited to graduate,\u201d Roy said. \u201cI\u2019m eager, but I\u2019m not really leaving UTC. I love Chattanooga and I love UTC.\u201d<\/p>\n

A native of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Roy initially arrived at UTC in 2021 as a pre-med student. Like many first-year students, she realized her plan was not the right fit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI realized I didn\u2019t have a passion for biology or chemistry at all,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Because both of Roy\u2019s parents were educators, she was inspired to shift her focus to secondary education and political science. She found purpose in the ways teaching can have an impact on others.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe it\u2019s one of the most direct ways you can impact somebody\u2019s life,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

====================================================<\/p>\n

Click here for more UTC Commencement 2026 stories<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

====================================================<\/p>\n

While her change in majors set her on a different path, information from the Honors College, where she was a Brock Scholar, would ultimately give her a very unique and transformative college experience.<\/p>\n

During her sophomore year, Roy learned about the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) program just weeks before the application deadline.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was like, \u2018OK, I\u2019m going to apply,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cI speak some Chinese. Surely, I have a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was accepted into the CLS, an intensive language immersion program, and studied abroad at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan, where she lived with a host family.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the most uncomfortable experience at first,\u201d Roy said. \u201cI couldn\u2019t even communicate. I was using Google Translate for everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet over time, the experience became one of the most fulfilling parts of her college years. \u201cI think it was also the most rewarding,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

After realizing how much she valued living abroad, Roy later studied at the University of Brighton in England for a semester, focusing on political science coursework. She ultimately decided to apply for the prestigious Boren Scholarship to gain even more experience studying abroad.<\/p>\n

Roy was accepted and returned to Taiwan for nine months.<\/p>\n

This time, Roy was living independently in Taipei and navigating daily life on her own, which further developed her language skills and cultural understanding.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to figure everything out myself,\u201d she said. \u201cBut it taught me a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

During her second trip to Taiwan, Roy traveled to other countries, such as Japan, Thailand and the Philippines, which led to spontaneous adventures.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe booked a flight for the Philippines the night before and didn\u2019t even have a hotel,\u201d she said. \u201cWe ended up swimming with whale sharks. That wasn\u2019t even part of the plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy described reuniting with her host family as one of the most meaningful experiences of her return to Taiwan.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe calls me her daughter,\u201d Roy said. \u201cI feel like I have a whole additional family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite all the wonderful things she experienced while studying abroad, returning to campus at UTC brought some challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s definitely a reverse culture shock and took time to adjust to, and I am still in the process of,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Roy also found it difficult to maintain her Chinese in the same way living in the States.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s not a ton of resources here to learn Chinese,\u201d she said, \u201cso I try to watch shows in the language and stay in contact with people from my programs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Emma

Emma Roy’s undergraduate years at UTC included earning a Critical Language Scholarship and a Boren Scholarship.<\/p><\/div>\n

Roy credits UTC\u2014especially the Honors College\u2014with helping her discover opportunities she never knew existed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout the Honors College, I would not be doing what I\u2019m doing,\u201d Roy said. \u201cThey made me aware that these programs were even an option.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will miss a lot of the professors that helped me as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now in her final semester, Roy is completing her student teaching at Red Bank Middle School, where she teaches eighth-grade U.S. history. She plans to continue teaching while pursuing a master\u2019s degree in computer science and cybersecurity at UTC.<\/p>\n

Long-term, her goals extend beyond the classroom. Roy has secured a pathway to work with plans to begin that journey after graduate school.<\/p>\n

\u201cFive years ago, I never thought I would go into computer science or cybersecurity and work for the federal government,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead towards commencement, Roy reflected on how much her perspective has changed, not only academically but also personally.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so much more out there,\u201d she said. \u201cEveryone should study abroad. You get to see how the world views America and it really changes you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

UTC Honors College<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Office of National Scholarships<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Center for Global Education<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Visit UTC<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to apply<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Emma Roy is set to walk across the stage at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s commencement this week after a very unconventional undergraduate journey. From studying abroad in England and twice in Taiwan, Roy\u2019s UTC experience has been marked by academic pivots, global exploration and the courage to step outside her comfort zone.<\/p>\n

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