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FEATURED FRIEND:
SANDRA COOK

Sandra Cook is an Office Associate in the Department of Rehabilitation and Special Education. She is the "face of the department" and has earned the reputation among students, faculty, and staff of being a good friend, sister, troubleshooter, and a person who always brings cheer to a dull day. In addition to her hard work in the office and brightening the hallways of Haley Center, Sandra helps to organize student functions and has hosted numerous socials for our distance students while they are visiting Auburn's campus. 

Where are you from, Sandra?

I'm from a small town in Mississippi called Tishomingo - that's close to Tupelo. A small country town. 

How many people are in your family?

I have 6 brothers and 1 sister; my mom and my stepdad.

What did you do as kids in Tishomingo, Mississppi?

Well, we were from the country - very deep down country. Climbing hills, swinging from trees. I grew up with my brothers so I was quite a tomboy. My most memorable moments were with my brothers, growing up. After school we'd get in the yard and we'd wrassle, and we'd play Indians and Cowboys. I thought I could be an Indian. I remember one day my brothers and I were outside playing Cowboys and Indians and my brothers - they had their shirts off. My dad had given all my brothers nicknames. My oldest brother was Jerome, so his nickname was "Geronimo." My name was "Dusty" because I loved to play in the dirt and put dirt in my hair! So all my brothers had their shirts off and they had put mud on their chests for Indian markings. So I had a little blouse on and I took it off - I thought I could do the same thing. My daddy said, "Baby, you can't do that...you're a girl!" And I cried! I cried because I wanted to do what they were doing and be able to paint myself too. We had so much fun growing up. We were poor, but there was a lot of love.
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You're close with your family today?

Oh yes. We stay very close. I talk to one of my brothers or my sister every day. Every day. That's what I like about unlimited long distance! I talk to somebody every day in my family. I've got 5 nieces and 6 nephews, so there is that to talk about too!

If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I would want to go to Africa. I've always wanted to go on a safari. I love animals, I love to be close to nature, love the solitude. I'd love to be close to the elephants, the zebra...just the country - being able to walk. It'd probably be dangerous, but I'd be willing! My husband would want to hunt something...he'd be looking for wild hogs, of course.

You and your husband ride motorcycles; where can you see yourself going on a trip some day?

We'd ride from one side of the U.S. to the other. There's nothing like it out there. I enjoy riding with him now that I'm able to ride by myself on mine. I'm usually behind him - trailing him. He has the Hayabusa, which is so much faster than mine. He'll speed up ahead and I'll have to catch up. Mine's a Kawasaki 650; his is a Hayabusa. It's the fastest bike they make. He loves the speed! I tease him all the time. He tells me I can't handle his bike - I tell him next year I'm getting a purple 'busa, since they came out with purple this year. He said he's going buy his black suit. And I'll keep my black dress ready for him! I got me one of those German-style shiny helmets. It's so neat! Now I want a black leather shorts and a black leather vest!
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What do you like best about working at Auburn?

The students. I love the students. They're always coming to me to get me to help them; coming to ask me what I think and to help them with their problems. I think that's what the most exciting part of my job is. I talk to them and encourage them. Encourage them to talk to their professors with class problems. One student came to me recently; she was going off to intern and she brought me her letter to apply. She asked me to look over it; we sat down and revised it; I typed it, put it on some nice paper. And she got it. She called me Saturday morning to say she'd gotten the internship. We were both excited! I've got invitations from other students who have gone off to come and visit them - Tennessee...Florida. 

Tell me about your dogs.

Oh, they're my babies. We've got five. Clyde and I have Godchildren, but our dogs are our babies. We have Buddy - he's the oldest, Pepper, Eight-Ball, Killer, and Misty - who is the last one. She had been abandoned and they were going to put her to sleep and I just said, bring her home. Every time I take one home, I think Clyde is going to have a fit. I say I'm going to give it away, and he says, "no you're not...that's my dog!" So we end up keeping them...every one of them!

When I come home they're waiting at the fence for me...just jumping with excitement. So I say if nobody else is excited to see me, well, these dogs are! Those are our babies.
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Are you still going to school?

I'm finishing up my bachelors degree in Business Management - I've got one more semester. But I also want to try to get my masters. I'll finish up my bachelors at Faulkner University in Montgomery, and I'll do my masters there too. I drive there two nights a week.

I enjoy going there; I like the environment, the professors. I told my sister - I had to drop out of college. Well, I got my 2-year degree, but I started on my 4-year degree. I told her that I helped them through college and now at my age, I'm going to get my degree. And when I graduate, I want to see every one of you there. We laughed. At their graduations it was always, "Oh Lord, Sandra's crying." Well I told her I want them to be crying when I come across. Y'all better be crying! When my sister graduated from UNA cum laude, I told her "I might not be cum laude but I'm going to be Sandra laude!!
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dbrowning
april 2005

Sandra can be reached at cooksac@auburn.edu or 334-844-5943