As a senior, I want to finish the year strong. A part of that means I can get my applications secured for grad school by December. I’m mostly open-minded about where I’ll go for grad school, since I know I can still get a job in the sports psychology profession with multiple ways, whether I get an advanced degree in sports psychology or social work.

My career path has changed throughout my time here. While I have had a lot of twists and turns in my academic journey, I wanted to go to college to find myself and discover what I like. I did just that here at Grinnell, and I am looking forward to doing the same throughout my experiences in the future.

Science has always been my thing.

But I’ve moved away from wanting to apply to med school. I just don’t think it’s right for me at this time. I’m planning on applying to nursing school because I work at St. Francis Manor in town (a senior living facility) as a CNA (certified nursing assistant). I absolutely love working there.

The people I met at St. Francis have been awesome. Not just the people I work with, but the residents themselves. I love them. I’m lucky to have met those people. I absolutely love working there and I love the work that I’m doing.

My parents were like, “I think it takes a really specific kind of person to enjoy working with old people and doing that kind of work, so maybe consider it.“ And so I think I’m applying to nursing school for the next year.

I talked a lot with Professor Sieck and a little with Professor Swartz about post-grad opportunities. I am also a member of the HPAC (Health Professions Advisory Committee) career community. I was aware of Grinnell’s high success of sending students into health care when I was first applying, and it was definitely important to me in terms of understanding next steps careerwise and achieving my goals post-grad.

I’m considering accelerated BSN programs. I might do one that’s a dual enrollment where you can get your PhD in nursing as well. 

I think it’ll be good. I think it’s a better option for me right now than med school. If it isn’t the right option, that’s okay because I can always do something else.

Where am I now? I have now moved to Madison, Wisconsin to start a new chapter in my life as a Project Manager for Epic Systems. I specifically work as a project manager for the claims and remittance application side of the company.

I want to thank everyone who has supported me in the process for this opportunity and I can't wait to see what the future holds. The independence and the responsibilities that are thrown at us, as well as the constant push against our comfort zones, have made me very comfortable with uncertainty.

After graduating, I'm continuing to work as a teacher in Grinnell High School. I hope to eventually transition to NGOs. My plans are to finish my education licensure and potentially study public policy in graduate school.

For my last year at Grinnell, I want to hang out with friends and make final memories before graduation. Although I'm staying until the end of the fall semester in 2023, a lot of my closest friends here are graduating in the spring.

Career-wise, I want to gain a lot more research experience in psychology and neuropsychology. After a gap year or two, my goal is to head to a neuroscience/psychology Ph.D. program. I believe that making the most of Grinnell’s resources by talking with professors, asking for recommendation letters, and visiting our Center for Careers, Life, and Service (CLS) as much as possible while I am here will help with that.

The people at the CLS have been incredibly kind in helping me ease my anxiety about taking a gap year before grad school. Currently, I’ve been talking and making plans about graduate school with Anne and Sarah in the CLS. Their team has been very supportive and open-minded, and I definitely feel heard when planning out the direction I want to take my life, even if I don’t have everything figured out! Whatever is in store for me, I know that I have supportive people by me who can help me weather and navigate any storm.

Like DJ from the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice (CRSSJ) says, "Tuck and roll with the punches," and have a growth mindset about the future, rather than a fixed mindset about it!

For my last year at Grinnell, I want to have fun and take advantage of everything Grinnell has to offer. For example, I'm really treasuring living with my closest friends.

After graduating? I’d like to travel more. After studying abroad in Denmark, I realized I want to do more of that, especially with friends. When my swimming career ends, I'd like to get into competitive triathlons. And who knows, maybe I can combine these interests and do competitive triathlons all over the country or world!

Job-wise, I have a CRTA post-baccalaureate fellowship at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland for two years. After that: grad school!

During my last year at Grinnell, I spent time with friends, both new and old. After all, when else will I get to live within a few-block radius of all my friends again? And when will I be able to take advantage of free talks and events like this again?

Career-wise, I'm now an admission counselor at Davidson College! I'm Davidson's representative for students from Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, and Washington!

For my last year at Grinnell, I want to enjoy my time with friends. It’s very unique to be in a small and charming place like this, and taking full advantage of that before I graduate is the goal. I want to continue making friends, even though I only have one semester left. I think that's what makes us Grinnellians: Our community strives to keep meeting new people and consistently making new connections.

I’m currently in the process of applying for jobs. I want to do hands-on work in research and technology, and I want to use my biology and statistics knowledge for meaningful change, possibly in conservation. With all my experiences during my college years, from my classes to my internship and study abroad experience, I am confident that I will be able to do that!

As a student, I loved being involved in the community, helping make the world a better place and having agriculture, music, and dance as important things in my life.

In August of 2023, I accepted a position as an admissions counselor at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs! I'm the regional counselor for the Northern Colorado Springs-South Denver corridor. 

One of my most favorite things about the place I work is its commitment to its students. UCCS is a very student-focused institution, meaning students get excellent opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom.

As a fourth-year student about to graduate, I want to explore experiences outside the CS department. CS has been with me for a while, and I want to see what I can do and stretch my limits more.

For post-grad, I'm attracted to working in smaller companies. You can get a wide array of responsibilities in a small company compared to a bigger company, so I want to get involved that way. Outside of work, I want to interact more with nature, form new relationships, maintain old relationships, and travel.