My name is Abby, and I am a senior in the Exercise Science major at Old Dominion University. I absolutely love studying Exercise Science, and I intend on pursuing a doctorate degree in Physical Therapy after I complete my undergraduate studies.
Currently, I hold many positions outside of being a full-time student. I began to work for ODU’s Student Recreation Center my freshman year as a Fitness Specialist, and now I am going on my third year as a certified personal trainer. Since then, I have expanded my horizons and have started working as a group exercise instructor and small group trainer.
Another position I hold within the Recreation and Wellness department is my job as an Outdoor Adventure Trip Leader. This is an especially rewarding position, because I am able to watch trip participants grow out of their comfort zones as they face challenges and conquer fears. That growth can transfer into the college-setting, the workplace, and real-life. Not only that, but I am able to share my passion of the outdoors with students and faculty across campus.
Apart from my on-campus work, I work as a physical therapy technician in outpatient clinics throughout Hampton Roads. This experience, along with many hours of volunteer and observation hours accumulated over the years, affirms to me that physical therapy is a career that I will enjoy.
Recently, I have taken the position as the Secretary of ODU’s Exercise Science Society. I am thrilled to interact with underclassmen as they begin to discover what the major consists of and am looking forward to implementing creative ideas in order to improve this organization. I am also in the Honors College, working toward fulfilling the requirements for ODU’s LeADERS program, and am currently assisting with a research project that will be presented at a national conference regarding the Outdoor Adventure Program that I work for.
I am taking this course to fulfill my interdisciplinary minor of Health and Wellness, and because I am interested in how culture and psychology are related. Last spring semester, I had the opportunity to attend a spring break study abroad trip in Ireland, and since then, my eyes have been opened to the vast differences that exist amongst cultures. I desire to travel and emerge myself in new cultures, so I am hoping that this course will help me to learn more about the psychology of my own culture, as well as the differences in the psychology of other cultures.
My current academic and personal goals include graduating with Honors in May, applying to graduate school, and pursuing a fulfilling career that involves helping others related to my field of study. As a senior, I have learned to keep an open mind in order to turn opportunities into positive learning experiences. I plan to keep an open-mind throughout the duration of my final two undergraduate semesters at ODU and throughout the duration of this course. I hope to learn how Cross-Cultural Psychology can enhance my interactions with people of other cultures throughout my time as a student and in my future career.