What are your career goals / academic goals?

I am an aspiring school psychologist and hope to become a graduate assistant at Marist while pursuing my master's in School Psychology.  I am also planning on graduating a year early (Spring of 2024).

Why did you choose to pursue your graduate degree at Marist? Why did you choose to pursue this degree program?

I chose Marist to complete my undergraduate years because of the tight-knit community and small class size. I have been able to make meaningful relationships with professors and have access to opportunities I may not have had in a class with 200-400 people. 

Tell us about a project or course that was particularly meaningful to your professional development:

My Research Methods I class was beneficial in applying all the statistical formulas and research designs I have learned thus far in my courses. I was able to work with a group of students and create a research study that we worked on the whole semester. Our question was whether there was a difference in relationship quality between those who met on dating apps and those who met in real life. We were able to conduct a study with student participants and analyze our data before presenting it to the class, which granted us a hands-on learning experience. 

Tell us about a meaningful experience you had at Marist as it pertains to your degree:

I took a creative writing class at Marist the first semester and loved Dr. Graham so much that I was inspired to declare it as a minor. She encouraged me to push myself and even convinced me to submit to the Mosaic, a book published each semester that displays student work, where two of my pieces were published! She also recommended me for a student writing job that I still have today—an opportunity I would have no idea about if it wasn’t for her strong recommendation and support. 

What advice would you give to a student considering pursuing this degree at Marist?

Get to know your professors! There are so many hidden internship and research opportunities that are just under the surface. Maintaining good relationships with your professors will make you stand out and they can help you find numerous opportunities. Also, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! You won’t know if you don’t try, and there’s no harm in trying.