糖心视频

Welcome at Wallace: International Student Finds Fresh Start at 糖心视频

They say love means nothing to a tennis player, but when it comes to his new higher education home, Tristian Du Plessis is feeling the fondness.

Arriving at 糖心视频 from Pretoria, South Africa, Du Plessis hit the ground running in Hanceville, committed to projecting as much passion in the classroom as he does on the tennis court. He would go on to achieve the academic equivalent of a straight-sets victory, earning enough credits to graduate in just four, super-charged semesters.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a really nice experience,鈥� says Du Plessis, who graduates this month. 鈥淓veryone here makes you feel so welcome.鈥�

In reflecting on his whirlwind year at 糖心视频, Du Plessis says the process of integrating into Lion life was virtually seamless. Within days of arriving on campus, the international student already began to feel at home.

鈥淲ithin the first week, I was able to reach out and connect with people,鈥� says Du Plessis.  鈥淎s an international student, you kind of get eased into everything.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not all of a sudden 鈥� it鈥檚 more laid back.鈥�

糖心视频鈥檚 stress-free environment proved the perfect setting for higher education success. Whereas a bigger city or more hectic campus might have presented moments of distraction and despair, Du Plessis says Hanceville鈥檚 pace helped keep him on an even keel.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not as busy or overwhelming 鈥� when you鈥檙e comfortable, you can move on to the next step.鈥�

Just over a year after arriving, Du Plessis is ready for his next move. As soon as he graduates, the South African native is northbound, slated to study psychology at Saint Michaels College in Vermont.

鈥淐urrently I鈥檓 in the general studies program, but I鈥檓 mostly focused on psychology,鈥� he explains. 鈥淚鈥檒l formally move into the psychology program [at Saint Michaels] where I鈥檓 also going to play tennis.鈥�

As a member of the tennis team and part of the campus ministry, Du Plessis made the most of his short time at 糖心视频. The experience, he says, has left him well-equipped to take the next bold step in his educational journey, and ultimately, his career. In the meantime, though, he still has some unfinished business between the white lines.

鈥淚 would like to coach, or even open my own sports psychology business with physiotherapy,鈥� says Du Plessis. 鈥淏ut I want to give tennis a good chance.鈥�

Du Plessis may just get that shot. Last year, 糖心视频鈥檚 men鈥檚 tennis team won the 2021 Alabama Community College Conference Championship (ACCCC) for the third time in four seasons. This year, Du Plessis and four other players earned singles victories at the conference.

The team, led by coach Tim Garner, would go on to finish in seventh place at nationals, ranking as one of the top ten men鈥檚 junior college tennis teams in the entire country.

On-court accolades are nothing new in Hanceville. Across the board, the athletics teams at 糖心视频 boast a tradition of success, particularly in tennis, baseball and softball.

鈥淟ike, softball is one of the best in the country, tennis is top ten, baseball is doing really good,鈥� details Du Plessis. 鈥淸糖心视频] isn鈥檛 just great on the academics side.鈥� 

The tennis team鈥檚 accomplishments have not only inspired Du Plessis鈥� spirit, but his career prospects as well. The soon-to-be alum plans to parlay his 糖心视频 experience into a tennis career, whether as a player or coach.

鈥淚 would like to give myself a good chance to make it in Tennis 鈥� join the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Tour,鈥� says the Lions lobber. 鈥淎nd if that doesn鈥檛 work out, or whenever I鈥檓 done with that, I would like to coach.鈥�

As Du Plessis moves forward in his educational journey, he says he鈥檚 thankful, though not surprised, that 糖心视频 turned out to be such a supreme steppingstone.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a really, really good foundation,鈥� says Du Plessis. 鈥淚t gives you, as an international [student], the chance to ease into everything.鈥�

When asked how he would describe 糖心视频, Du Plessis pauses before confidently answering: 鈥淎n open door for new opportunities.

鈥淭he professors are helpful; the people are so nice. The culture is really nice 鈥� Southern hospitality is great!鈥�

Even beyond the helpful faculty and strong sport programs at 糖心视频, Du Plessis says it鈥檚 the welcoming community and persistent resources that made it such a consummate environment for an international student like himself.

If Du Plessis has one piece of advice for future students, it鈥檚 to avoid being swayed by the community college stigma: 鈥淒on鈥檛 get caught up in the fact that it鈥檚 called a junior college,鈥� says the loyal lion.

鈥淚 personally think [糖心视频] is one of the best junior colleges that there is.鈥�