Summer Freeman

Spring 2020 Graduate - TAMUT

For Summer Freeman, the path to earning a bachelor’s degree and starting a career in education involved a trip down the road less travelled. She began college at age 16, served as an intelligence analyst with the United States Marine Corps, went back to school on the GI Bill, earned an associate’s degree from Texarkana College in 2016 and graduated from Texas A&M University-Texarkana in the spring of 2020.

Summer, a Texarkana native, initially began taking some classes at Texarkana College after graduating early from high school. She enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2012 and went through three months of basic training at Paris Island followed by an additional month of combat training. She then completed 3 months of intelligence school before being stationed at 29 Palms, California. While there she worked with an air wing as an intelligence analyst, working with and analyzing drone footage.

When she left the Marine Corps she returned to Texarkana College where she finished her associates degree before moving on to Texas A&M University-Texarkana. While at TAMUT she was President of the Future Teacher’s Association and enjoyed being an active member of campus. “TAMUT was very welcoming,” said Freeman. “There are so many events. It really gives you a chance to connect with all types of people.”

Summer completed her student teaching at Pleasant Grove Intermediate School prior to graduating and has accepted an offer to teach 3rd grade writing there in the fall of 2020. She is more than excited to get started. “I love that I will be able to have an impact in my students’ lives,” she said. “We all had that one teacher…that person who impacted us greatly as a student and I want to be that person for the children I teach.” She added, “I want to help them succeed. To give them the tools they will need for life.”

Summer has been married to her husband, Marshall Freeman, for five years. They have one son, Wesley, who is three.