It’s A Small World Afterall
Old Dominion University’s LeADERS program connects students to courses and real world experiences in the areas of: Leadership, Academic Internship, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Research, or Service Learning. This LeADERS ePortfolio shares how my experiences in the areas of research, outreach, and innovation have supported my personal and professional development.
Reflecting Back
My original membership to the LeADERS program was simply because I had received an invitation, and figured it wouldn’t hurt. It has grown into something so much better for me. I am not only able to see the wholistic manner of my education, but I am able to see directly how my academics are preparing me for my future passions.
Throughout my LeADERS courses I have been challenged by taking charge in uncomfortable situations, combating internal disagreement with professional guidance and opinions, growing into the leadership styles I want to be, discovered my love of research, and developed appreciation for many different disciplines.
I believe my personal growth was my largest success. Prior to engaging in college and different course styles, I was comfortable with lectures and homework only. Through my courses I have been able to grow into independent study work, private research, thesis course hours, various honors courses, and hand-on service learning structures. I believe my success was attributed to my support system of encouraging and focused friends, the most amazing mentors in my professors and Perry Honors College.
Looking Forward
After graduation, I hope to attend William and Mary for a Human Cognition Masters degree, where I will study the motor cortex in the brain. After obtaining a PhD hope to own my own research facility one day, and study how dance impacts the motor cortex and sensation and perception.
LeADERS courses have prepared me to be able to see that I am not an extrovert, so courses that are service learning were incredibly rewarding but extremely exhausting. My academic internship helped me find that the area I was pursuing was not academically oriented enough for my personal fulfillment. My research courses inspired me to strive for graduate school and my leadership courses encouraged me to want to help others through research.