What was your reason for coming to Daemen College?

The main reason I chose Daemen College was for the unique and endless opportunities that are available to the students. I was excited about the interesting and diverse classes that allowed me to continue incorporating complementary and alternative health practices into community health. I also loved the sense of community while visiting the campus. I could tell that the professors are truly invested into the success of their students.

What do you aspire to be after college/what are your career plans?

After graduation, I hope to become a corporate employee wellness program coordinator. I would also like to become a certified health and wellness coach and Reiki III practitioner. After gaining experience and insight into the community health field, I would like to earn my Master’s degrees in Business and Public Health. Eventually I would love to own my own health and wellness consultation business that focuses on mind/body stress management techniques.

Please describe your impressions of Daemen College.

Daemen College has allowed me to broaden my horizons and interests in both my personal and professional life. I discovered my passion for entrepreneurship, and my excitement for this field continues to grow through amazing experiences including networking with entrepreneurial guest speakers, attending field trips, and competing in a business plan competition. The rigorous classes and numerous student activities allow you to try new things, while keeping a healthy balance between work and play.

Tell us about your life outside of academics: clubs, sports, hobbies, things to do around Buffalo, NY.

Outside of classes, I am involved in the Health Care Studies Student Association (HCSSA) and Social Media Team. The HCSSA is a wonderful opportunity to connect with classmates and plan campus activities, and the Social Media Team is implementing an app, CampusQuad, which organizes all of the campus activities into one interactive app. Outside of campus, I love to stay active by playing ultimate Frisbee, exploring Buffalo’s charming Elmwood Avenue, and visiting local parks. Buffalo and its suburbs also have an upbeat pulse with constant events downtown and at Canalside, diverse restaurants, and a fascinating arts scene.

Please describe any internship, study abroad, service learning, or academic experience (Academic Festival or research you are working on or have worked on in the past).

For service learning, I volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. Each week, our team was doing something new, from dry walling to building door frames to digging trenches. This experience really helped me to build my cultural competency skills as I was able to meet a refugee family from Burma and work with various volunteer groups throughout the Buffalo area. This experience opened my eyes to the struggles that impoverished families face, and I realized the true impact that contributing to something bigger than myself has on a community. Another fascinating academic experience that I had was entering the WNY Student 2 Biz competition. My interdisciplinary team pitched our fully developed business plan on stage to a panel of judges. It felt just like we were on Shark Tank! This was an incredible opportunity for networking and advancing my public speaking skills.