Preparing for Post-Graduate Success
My extracurriculars, such as being a member of the swim team, being a research assistant of faculty-led research, student senate, exercise science club, and being on the throwing team taught me many valuable lessons. Such as how to work with a team, be on time, trust the process, and work with others along with helping me improve my research skills, all of which I use on a daily basis. I feel the most important thing I learned from these is that you could go through the motions and do the minimum to get by and you might find success, but, if you work hard, success finds you.
A Love for Mount Union
The thing I loved the most about my experience at Mount Union is how connected you can become with peers, faculty, and staff. Campus feels like home and everyone on it is one big rowdy Raider family. From peers pushing you to do your best academically and athletically, to professors willing to put in as much effort as possible to help you succeed, and the staff keeping the entire campus running behind the scenes, I truly felt at home. My favorite memory of my time at Mount Union was being able to present my senior research project, that I co-authored with one of my closest friends, Taylor, at the International Society of Sports Nutrition conference where it placed second as best original undergrad research poster presentation.
Best Part of Working with Patients
The best part of my current job is tending to patients in Cardiac Rehab. To be able to see someone in a weakened state after a cardiac event or heart surgery slowly regain their strength and not only return to the health they were at before their cardiac event, but also improve past their former health through my help, expertise, and motivation brings me a joy that is unique and fulfilling. I may not be saving lives like those you would see in tv hospital dramas, but I am helping those that feel like their lives are ending due to cardiac disease regain their livelihood and get a second chance at maintaining good health through the use of exercise as a form of medicine.