"I have always found it necessary to help those who are not able to get what is essential in life," said Josh Mallard, who studies at Wichita State to become a botanist.

"With botany, I hope to build greenhouses all around Kansas in an attempt to decrease the price of produce for low income areas as well as providing schools with fresh and cheap produce. With Geology I hope to go into land restoration to try and build communities back up that have fallen down," Josh said.

Josh is involved in Student Ambassador Society, Green Group, Student Government, Geology Club, FOCUS, Society of Cosplayers, Media Arts Club, Anthropology Club, BAJA SAE Racing and SHARE. He spends a lot of his free time giving back to the Wichita community. including working with Botanica to build a compost pile for them and building greenhouses for his friends and family. Josh has even built a greenhouse for his high school alma mater, Wichita Collegiate School!

Josh's favorite part of his Wichita State experience has been being able to help prospective students who are planning to attend WSU in the future.

"I love getting to meet these individuals who have a passion for our university as well as their majors. Meeting so many different kinds of people has changed how I view those around me," Josh said.

Josh feels that his biggest challenge has been overcoming the bullying he faced as a teenager. While attending to Wichita State, he has been able to conquer his fear of what other people think about him.

"Wichita State showed me that I can be whomever I choose to be and that I am amazing, Josh said. "This university is so accepting of anyone and everyone."

Josh's big piece of advice to all incoming freshmen is to get involved as much as you can, no matter where you go because it will help you establish a community.

"Everyone here is new and from a different place. Everyone here has been through several of the challenges you have been through as a young adult navigating through life."