Finding Greatness: Tori Howard

Author: Sheron Smith
Posted: Thursday, March 27, 2025 12:00 AM
Categories: School of Education and Behavioral Sciences | Finding Greatness | Pressroom | Students

Cochran, GA

Tori Howard, a resident assistant on MGA’s Cochran Campus, is a criminal justice major who plans to go to law school. She holds a 3.9 GPA while working several campus jobs.

MGA professors “are truly dedicated to teaching and helping their students succeed. I still contact some of my previous professors if I have any questions, and they are always happy to help.”

Full Name: Tori Howard.

Age: 20.

Hometown: Metter, Ga.

High School: Metter High School, where she was senior class secretary, soccer team captain, and Art Club president. She also participated in track, cross country, Candler Youth Leadership, and Key Club International.

Family: Parents, Eugene and Kendra Howard; sister, Tyra Howard; and dogs, Mason and Molly.

Employment: Full-time student, MGA Student Success Center tutor, Peer Mentor, and Resident Assistant.

Degree Objective: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

Class Rank: Junior.

Primary Campus: Cochran.

Activities: English Studies Organization secretary, Middle Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office intern in summer 2023.

Career Goals: “I plan to become an attorney. I’ve primarily been interested in practicing criminal law, but I’m open to other areas if the opportunity arises.”  

She chose Middle Georgia State University because … “I chose MGA because of the small class sizes. I grew up in a very small town, so classes were usually filled with no more than 20 students. I knew that I would be uncomfortable sitting in a lecture hall with 50 other students, so MGA is great when it comes to small, personal classes. I also wanted to go to a school that is relatively close to home. It only takes an hour to get there, so it’s very convenient if I want to go for the weekend.”

The greatest thing she discovered about Middle Georgia State was … “How great the professors are! I am proud to say that I have not had a single ‘bad’ professor! They are truly dedicated to teaching and helping their students succeed. I still contact some of my previous professors if I have any questions, and they are always happy to help.”

Her greatest academic experience as a Middle Georgia State student has been … “Maintaining a 3.9 GPA while holding three campus positions. It gets overwhelming sometimes but looking at the great outcomes of my hard work makes everything worth it.”  

To her, greatness means … “Relying on discipline rather than motivation. Discipline is our ability to push forward regardless of how we are feeling. Motivation comes and goes; it’s something that pushes you to get started. But discipline carries you through the hard parts. It’s about sticking to something, even when you don’t feel like it.”

In five years … “I see myself being a successful attorney in whatever field of law I choose to practice in. I also see myself doing the things that I love, like traveling and attending concerts.”