My freshman year at Duke University was good, but my sophomore year so far has exceeded my expectations! Last year I was just grateful to be on campus and meet new people, even though all my classes were online and social activities were at a minimum. This year all of my classes - including dance - are in person. I have the best roommate, and I have been able to explore parts of campus that were closed last year due to Covid. Sports games are open to students and the public again as well, and I even danced in a sold out Cameron Stadium to open for the basketball team.

The courses and workload are definitely very rigorous, but there is not a subject I don’t love! What I love the most about Duke is that I am surrounded by smart, witty people who challenge, encourage and inspire me daily. With the abundance of opportunities and the little bit of spare time left, the hardest part is to narrow down where to focus my time and energy. I continue to work with the Center for Autism and Brain Development. I was also selected to be part of a team that works to decode neurofeedback and use that to mitigate racism. I expanded my role in clubs such as Best Buddies, Rotaract, and Duke Synapse. Dancing is my outlet. This year I get to dance at the Rubenstein Art Center, which is unlike any dance studio I have ever seen. With my dance group, Defining Movement, we are also back to performing in person again, which has brought us closer together and has made the experience all the more exciting.

So far, this year has proven to be more challenging, rewarding, exciting, and fulfilling than the year before. I still pinch myself that I am a student at such a renowned institution and I am humbled by the support of MVYouth to help pursue my dreams of one day working in the field of child development and behavior!