UVU is definitely a place where people are there to help you along the way and to help you grow and become a better person than you were before.
Growing up, I always wanted to go to law school. But then once I got into high school, I was like, “That’s a lot of work,” and math became my easy-A subject. But I would say my passion in life right now would be … social justice issues. We’re all just people trying to live our lives. It’s important that we learn how to cooperate with each other because there’s no reason that we need to be fighting against each other. It does not solve a lot of issues.
At a different college, in my first physics class, there were 96 people. I never had to ask my teachers for help in high school. But when you get into college, it's a lot different, and you need to be proactive in seeking out that help. But I was too scared because there were too many people, and I didn't feel like I knew the professor that well, and I didn't want to seem like I was falling behind.
I wanted to switch to a school that had a statistics program and move a bit further away from my parents without having to pay as much money. So that's why I decided to come down to UVU. I did a bit of concurrent enrollment through them anyway, so I was already accepted.
My stats classes at UVU are really small. I have a good relationship with my professors and the other students in my program. It's not super competitive. I'm able to grow at my own pace without feeling pressured by anyone else and still get a good education while also getting opportunities that I wouldn't have gotten somewhere else where the program is a bit bigger.
The smallness here has helped me excel the most, because I need a lot of one-on-one time with professors to understand concepts. The proximity to my professors and classmates has helped me to learn, and honestly, I wouldn't be here right now if I didn't have that.
I first learned about the Women of UVU last year, because I was wanting to apply for
more financial aid. I don't get a lot from FAFSA, because my parents both work. I
ended up talking to my advisor about more scholarship opportunities, and she pointed
me toward the Women's Success Center. They told me the best way to qualify for more
scholarship opportunities is to get involved in Women of UVU. That sounded like a
good idea to me, anyway. I wanted to be a part of a group of women here on campus
who are trying to help each other graduate.
So I ended up applying for the Leadership Council and became the president of Women
of UVU. Being president of Women of UVU is extremely busy. I love to commit myself
to too many things at once. But it's been super fulfilling, because I feel like I've
made really good connections, not only with other students but with faculty here that
will really help me in the future.
I've been able to make a difference in other people's lives by being able to plan events for them and make them feel like they have a space to express themselves and feel like they're heard. I've never really seen myself as someone who's a leader, but this position has allowed me to really branch out and step out of my comfort zone and see that I can make a difference in other people's lives.
It's never too late to do what you want to do, and you're never too old to get involved. You're going to go through ups and downs with your education, and sometimes you're going to feel like you are unable to learn something — that it's just not coming easily to you. But you can always work through that, and with the help of your professors and other people in your life, it's possible to get through any challenges. UVU is definitely a place where people are there to help you along the way and to help you grow and become a better person than you were before.
Links:
UVU Statistics program
UVU Math program
UVU Women’s Success Center
Women of UVU
Women’s Success Center Instagram
