The past year has been full of opportunity and excitement for me. Over the summer, I was lucky enough to intern as a part-time teacher at the New England Center for Children, a school for children with severe autism in Southborough, MA. This was an invaluable experience, as I worked closely with a group of nine boys who brought me an endless amount of joy and deepened my passion for working with children with special needs.

In the past semester, I have continued to be a part of the women’s club soccer team here on campus. We had several games in the fall, playing teams within an hour or so from Hamilton. On the weekends we did not have games, I spent my time volunteering with the HAAND (Hamilton Autism Advocates for Neurodiversity) where we got to spend time with children with autism from the surrounding community.

I took a sensation and perception class in which we learned about the psychology and neuroscience behind how we sense and perceive the things around us. I also spent some of my time doing research with a psychology professor this semester, looking at the meaning-making process in narrative memories. Vertebrate physiology and cellular neurobiology both helped broaden my understanding of how our bodies work on a biological level. I hope to eventually combine my passion for biology and children with special needs in my future career path.

This upcoming spring semester, I am thrilled to be studying abroad in Madrid with the Hamilton College Spain program. I hope to fully immerse myself in the Spanish culture and the beauty of the Spanish language. I am forever grateful for everything that MVYouth has done to support me through all of these experiences. Thank you.