How did you end up at UNI?
Growing up in the Cedar Valley, I've had the pleasure of being a Panther fan for as long as I can remember. When it came down to choosing where I should continue my education, I didn't have to look very far from home. I had many fond memories at UNI growing up. I remember going to basketball, volleyball and football games through the years with friends and family. Members of my community such as coaches, student teachers, family and friends were alumni or students of UNI and spoke very highly of the university.

Why did you choose to pursue this degree at UNI? 
I knew I wanted to be a physical therapist years before I came to college. Upon visiting UNI, I was impressed with the kinesiology program and believed they would prepare me for the even higher level of education that grad school offers. 

What’s been your favorite experience at UNI so far?
So far, my involvement with Dance Marathon. To see the efforts, generosity, time, and dedication put forth by so many people was truly inspiring. To know that the money we collectively raised goes toward the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital and the care for the families there showed me how I can help make a difference in the lives of others and how a community of people can make a lasting change.

How has UNI helped you achieve your goals?
UNI has taught me the importance of time and financial management, communication and work ethic. All of these aspects have made me not only a better student but also a more responsible adult. The skills I've acquired here will benefit me in the rest of my undergraduate education, grad school, and future career.

What challenges have you faced as you've worked toward this degree – and how have you overcome them?
This degree has presented numerous challenges in regards to the amount of work and time required outside of class to do assignments, projects or study. However, I needed these challenges to become a better student. Learning to be more collaborative, disciplining myself, learning to work more efficiently and communicating with professors have helped me work through the challenges I have and will continue to face. 

Everyone has an idea of what college will be like — and then you get here. What has surprised you about UNI? About being in college? About yourself?
I didn't have too many pre-conceived ideas about college as I wasn't sure exactly what to expect, and everyone has such a different experience. However, I was surprised with how much I've been able to form professional relationships with my professors here at UNI and how much they want to see their students succeed. I was also unaware of my full potential as a student until I came to UNI, and I now look forward to continuing to progress toward it.

We often say UNI is ... student focused; a place where professors care--and teach; a place where learning happens in and out of the classroom; and perfectly sized. How do one or more of these statements ring true for you?
First, I'd like to say how much I believe UNI embodies all four of these characteristics and could give numerous examples for each. An example that sticks out the most to me, however, would have to be my participation in a research course. Next semester we will be performing our research, but we first took time to set up our project. In our setup, we tried to understand the realm of research we were going to focus on, how that research has changed and developed through the years and how we would conduct a study. The professor, Dr. (Jacob) Reed, was extremely collaborative and wanted to help us deepen our understanding of numerous topics so we would be successful at conducting research and communicating our finds. This course was one of many that I've experienced where the professor cared about the subject matter and helped grow my understanding.

What advice would you give to students considering coming to UNI?
To the students who are considering coming to UNI, the biggest piece of advice I could give you would be to prioritize your options. Ask yourself what the university has to offer you and how it will benefit you in the future. UNI has an abundance of opportunities to make you a more well-rounded and successful individual, but you have to prioritize and take advantage of them!

What three adjectives describe yourself?
Adaptable, hard-working, fun

What do you plan to do with your degree? 
I plan on attending grad school after graduation to earn my doctorate in physical therapy.