Major: Psychology with a certificate in Child Development
Hometown: Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Scholarships: John H. Devitt Scholarship
Finding a home at Behrend: I chose Behrend for many reasons. First, because I could earn a Penn State degree and the alumni base is massive. Behrend is also a beautiful campus and has a homey feel to it. Additionally, I wanted to play soccer, and I knew Behrend had a successful program with great coaches.
Why she chose her major: The brain has always fascinated me. I love its complexity. I knew majoring in psychology would give me the opportunity to learn more about the brain and the numerous disorders associated with it, as well as gain an understanding of why humans behave the way they do. It also provided a good foundation for graduate school, as a lot of the prerequisites are psychology courses like developmental psychology and abnormal psychology, both of which I loved.
Excelling on the field and in the classroom: From an academic standpoint, my proudest accomplishment has been maintaining a 4.0 grade point average while balancing work, school, social life, and soccer. From an athletic standpoint, my proudest moment would be winning the AMCC championship with my team in the 2021 season and competing in the NCAA tournament.
Campus involvement: Two-year captain of the women’s soccer team; group leader of Fellowship of Christian Athletes; volunteer in the TOPS soccer program; member of Psi Chi honor society and the Psychology club.
Awards and recognitions: President’s Freshman award, Chi Alpha Sigma Athletic Honors Society, Academic All-Conference every soccer season, Dean’s List every semester, Scholarship/Leadership Award from the team (voted on by teammates).
What you’d be surprised to know about her: I transferred to Behrend after my first year of college at the University of Akron where I played Division I soccer. In high school, I was a member of Team USA for dance/baton twirling. We competed in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, where we won the World Championships. Finally, people would be surprised to know that I am very emotional and still tear up at most Disney movies, especially Monsters, Inc.
Passions at play: I am passionate about helping people. I especially love working with older adults and those with special needs, so I’m very excited about my future career. I also love soccer and hope to find an adult recreational league to play in.
Advice for first-year students: Be proactive and find a routine. Also, know that even when school get stressful and overwhelming, you will get through it. Finally, get involved as much as you can because having a support system makes college a lot easier.
Emily plans to attend graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh to get a doctorate in occupational therapy. She hopes to specialize in neurology or work with those who have special needs.