By Chanika Raphael

Janeka George remembers always having a passion for learning since she was a child; her high-achieving nature was innate.

George is the Graduate Program Coordinator in Florida State University’s Department of English, but she is not a stranger to the campus community. She graduated from FSU in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Growing up, George never knew exactly what she wanted to do but knew that she wanted to take her education to the next level. She took advantage of the resources offered in her Broward County, Florida, school district, and George’s initiative helped her attend a lottery-based high school that opened many doors for her and spurred her interest in furthering her education.

In high school, George was dual enrolled, which allowed her to start college early. She recalls taking an Advanced Placement psychology class that influenced her to major in psychology for her undergraduate degree.

“I liked that class way too much—this is my calling,” George says, recalling that experience.

George enrolled at FSU under the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement Program. Miscommunication issues with advisors caused her to invest time in learning and mapping out her own academic plan. That skill became useful as George often found herself counseling her peers on how to better their own plans.

“I always thought of advising as ‘like it doesn’t have to be difficult,’ and I feel like some people make it more difficult than it has to be,” George says.

She emphasizes that she thoroughly enjoyed her coursework at FSU, and she kept her motivation to help other students, personal experiences that sparked her desire to become an advisor. George calls herself the “helping hand,” and she believes advising should not be confusing for students who already have a lot on their plate.

“The ultimate goal is creating a nice, welcoming environment for students to be successful,” George explains.

After graduating from FSU, George initially worked in FSU’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice as an advisor for senior undergraduates. She eventually found herself wanting a shift of pace, but she knew she wanted to stay with what she was doing. With the English department being a part of the College of Arts and Sciences, George saw her current position, which she started in July 2023, as a smooth transition, one that would involve use of her psychology background.

The ultimate goal is creating a nice, welcoming environment for students to be successful.

— Janeka George

“I wanted to continue in advising because that’s what I'm good at, and because English is a part of Arts and Sciences, that made me really value what we do,” George says. “I felt more in tune with the people,” adding how she already feels at home in the English department and with her peers in the Williams Building main office.

George would say that she wears multiple hats in her position and is “the connection between faculty and students.” Her responsibilities include facilitating exams, administrative work, building course schedules, and an assortment of other tasks, such as managing teacher assistants as they navigate graduate school.

George enjoys her free time away from the office as well, hanging out with friends, trying new restaurants in Tallahassee, and spending time with “baby Luna,” her cat.

In the next couple years, George anticipates returning to school to pursue a master's degree in social work. In the future, she wants to be a social worker in the criminal justice field, helping incarcerated individuals and their families.

Her advice for undergraduates in the English department who want to further their education is to understand that “there is no time limit on when you are supposed to go to grad school; handle your business because education will always be there.”

“Just know it’s not the end of the world if you can’t go to graduate school right away,” she adds. “There’s always next year, the year after that, and the year after that. The opportunities are still going to be there. Just take your time.”

George finds gratitude in helping others, which showed with her grin while being interviewed, discussing the journey she is on with her education. She embraces the path she is taking and is appreciative of the supportive work she does for the English department to help others fulfill their own goals.

Chanika Raphael is a senior majoring English-Editing, Writing, and Media, with a minor in communication.

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