A Cowboy, Without Question

 

Late start, big finish.

Meet Casey Giles.

 

She dreamed of a career in medicine, but with five siblings, she wasn’t sure if her family could afford it. She was apprehensive about the coursework, she had medical challenges, and, at age 25, she was concerned about going to university “late.” 

 

Then, four years ago, she found the opportunity to move to Stillwater and pursue her dreams at her dream school. At Oklahoma State University, she found that her time is the right time.

 

“It wasn’t as big of a gap as I thought,” she said. “I feel more confident with everything I do and I feel that sense of belonging.”

 

With the help of campus resources, she achieved a 4.0 GPA in her first semester. It wasn’t long before she was helping other students as an academic success coach at OSU’s LASSO Center. Now, at 27, she’s entering the final year of her bachelor’s degree program, majoring in psychology with a pre-med concentration and minors in neuroscience and philosophy. 

 

She began shadowing a neurologist in the spring, and the experience solidified her love of neurology, setting her on a path to become a neurological specialist. 

 

“It’s everything I thought it was going to be and more,” she said. “Since I was a teenager I’ve wanted to be in medicine. I’ve always been drawn to this radical blend of compassion, service, science and academia. I got my heart set on physician’s assistant school, but after shadowing a neurological specialist and seeing the opportunities before me I rethought everything and decided to dive right into medical school.”  

 

When Casey graduates in December 2021, she’ll be joined by family members — her 21-year-old sister and 58-year-old mother — who are planning to graduate simultaneously. They’ll join the growing family legacy that includes Casey’s father, a former Pistol Pete, her grandfather, who worked at OSU for over two decades, and various other family members who have attended and graduated over the years. 

 

She’ll have her Cowboy family, too. 

 

“It feels like a family here,” she said. “I’ve always had an easy time talking to professors and staff. Even with the smallest issues, they’ve been so helpful. They’re here to help you succeed and make your college experience what you want it to be. … You can make it here.” 

 

That’s how we build Cowboys. 

 

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