There’s an age-old expression that goes, “they wrote the book on it.” While the phrase usually just refers to someone being an expert on a particular topic, Khauriee Sullivan-Eason (Sully) `23 took the phrase quite literally. Shortly after graduating, Sully wrote, edited and published a book all about how to thrive in a college setting – based on his experiences as a Tiffin Dragon.
“My mother has been a writer for years,” Sully explained. “Whether it was short stories, poems or formal publications, she dabbled in all of it and encouraged me to do the same. I also grew up without a father figure in my life, so she had to raise me on her own while working two or three jobs at a time to support us. She has always been my biggest inspiration. In short, I only had one parental role model instead of two, and I know countless others have been in the same situation. Writing this book was my way of seeking to help others entering college without a traditional support system. I bumped my head – so to speak – a lot when I first started at TU, and now I hope others can learn from my mistakes.”
Sully went on to explain that his passion for writing only grew when he entered college, especially with the help of one mentor in particular.
“My professors absolutely encouraged me to pursue this,” he offered. “Dr. James Gucker was especially invested in me, and I’m forever grateful for his support and encouragement.”
Dr. Gucker, an Assistant Professor of Business Law with TU’s School of Business, had some similarly positive thoughts about Sully to share and also praised him for his decorated career as a student athlete.
“There are a lot of terms I could use to describe him – polite, intelligent, considerate, focused, organized, inspiring, a leader, a team player, thoughtful and compassionate. How someone responds to adversity often reveals their character. Sully responded to adversity by staying focused with a positive attitude and a strong commitment to persevere. He overcame all of those obstacles placed in front of him and was extremely successful. It was truly a privilege to teach, coach and mentor Sully. The TU Men’s rugby team was fortunate to have Sully’s athletic ability, leadership and sportsmanship during his time here as well.”
According to Sully, TU was the perfect place for him to pursue his bachelor’s degree and claims that belonging to such a supportive community is a large part of what gave him the confidence to start writing the book he’d been thinking about for years prior.
“I’m all in with TU – Dragons all the way,” he said confidently. “I actually briefly attended another university before transferring to Tiffin and had a terrible experience. The second I enrolled here, I fell in love. I knew administrators, financial aid officers – pretty much everybody on a first-name-basis and could tell from the start that they wanted more than anything to see me win and succeed. I can absolutely promise you that I wouldn’t have written the book without those people in my corner. It takes a village, and I certainly had one in college.”
In the book itself, Khauriee frequently uses examples from his time spent at TU to help new college students navigate what is an uncertain and stressful time for many. He even gives special shout-outs to his most cherished mentors and cites some favorite courses. He remains very grateful to his systems of support, as well as the book’s editors for helping him achieve this impressive goal.
Currently, Sully is studying for the Law School Admission Test, and his Dragon family wishes him all the best as he embarks on this new and exciting chapter.
Whether it’s for Sully’s helpful hints or just to reminisce about the college days, prospective and current students, as well as other alums, could all benefit from reading “The Guide to College Success.”
An e-version of the book is available for purchase via Amazon at amazon.ca/Guide-College-Success-guide-ebook. Please consider purchasing a copy in support of a fellow Dragon.