What was your path to OSU?  

Since I was in elementary school I knew I wanted to go to college, and Oregon State University was the dream school for me.

My dad graduated from here, so I grew up going to sporting games, walking around campus and visiting for school events and personal athletic games since I lived 50 minutes away in Eugene.

In high school, I worked toward my goal and sought opportunities that would not only help for admissions into college, but also for personal growth and exploration.

I volunteered at a multitude of places, including elementary school classrooms, summer camps, vet clinics and more to learn about what I would like in a career.

I also had the option to take IB courses and dual-enroll at the community college in my hometown to earn college credits in high school, which helped prepare me for classes at the university level and to enter OSU with previously earned credits.

Why are you interested in research?

My goal upon entering college was to accept opportunities presented to me.

As a part of the Honors College, I knew I would have to complete a thesis and that getting an early start on research would help me understand all that a thesis would entail.

I love learning and trying new things, so URSA was the perfect opportunity for me to gain experience. I initially applied to URSA not anticipating being accepted, but I knew that I wanted the exposure, and the chance was worth it.

I also loved the idea of being part of something bigger and being able to contribute to the greater good.

Why did you want to be part of Healthy Discoveries?

I wanted to be part of Healthy Discoveries to support its mission.

Research is an exciting opportunity that is within reach; it’s just a matter of getting there. It’s an opportunity for growth, knowledge and establishing connections that can help dictate your future and discover new passions.

The main reason I wanted to be part of Healthy Discoveries stemmed from a personal desire to understand what URSA is and what would be expected of me, so I wanted to offer that experience to others.

Going into this, I had a basic understanding of what I would do, but I've had some conflicts that I was not aware of prior. Having knowledge about the experience as a whole — and an insider's perspective — would have been very helpful, and I want to offer that honest experience to others.

What research will you be working on and with whom?

I will be working with Megan McClelland and her research team on Red Light Purple Light, an intervention for young students that focuses on music and movement circle games to promote self-regulation.

What are your future career or academic plans?

The career that I am currently working toward is physical therapy with a specialty in youth athletic injuries.

After completion of my undergraduate degree in kinesiology at OSU, I will be attending physical therapy school, most likely in Oregon, to earn my DPT.