UA Little Rock is highlighting some of its outstanding transfer students in celebration of National Transfer Student Week, Oct. 18-22.

Trystan Benson is a theatre arts major at UA Little Rock who transferred from UA-Pulaski Tech.

What is your hometown?

I am from Little Rock, AR.

Tell us about yourself.

I am a transfer student from the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College. I have a passion for the Theatre Arts, and my ultimate goal in life is to gain as much knowledge as possible within this field so I can share with as many people as I can.

Why did you decide to transfer to UA Little Rock?

I transferred to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock because I really had no interest in moving far from home. Plus, my plan from high school was to get my prerequisites done at UA-PTC then transfer to UA Little Rock no matter what degree I chose.

What is your major, and what do you plan to do after graduation?

My major is a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts, and my plan after I graduate is to work at a community theatre, the Argenta Community Theater.

What is special about being a transfer college student?

I think the most special thing about being a transfer student is the connections I have made throughout my experiences at both colleges.

Why did you choose UA Little Rock?

I honestly think UA Little Rock chose me. All of my most dearest friends from UA-PTC were transferring to UCA, and my heart was just not with that college. I had already been in contact with the former chair of our department Yslan Hicks and knew that this college was the environment I wanted to be in. I was extremely excited to start my new experience here.

What opportunities have you gotten through UA Little Rock that you might not have had otherwise?

I got an amazing opportunity to work on the Fringe Festival in Spring 2021. The Fringe Festival is a collection of student works performed by students and alumni; it is completely student driven. With this, I was able to direct a film which I had no previous experience doing, but I thought it was a great chance to learn. It was an amazingly enlightening opportunity, and I do not believe I would have gotten that chance without this wonderful department filled with the most compassionate people anyone will ever meet!