Graduate Ready

“If four years has proven anything, it's that I chose the right place,” she said. Abbey’s favorite college memories are of the campus and spending time with friends. From spring semesters when the weather gets warm, dogs are out and events are happening every Friday night, to trying to stay cool with her work crew during summer evenings, Abbey fell in love with the friendly and welcoming campus.

At IC, the health sciences and psychology major also found opportunities to be involved, the guidance she needed as a first-generation student and the experiential learning that helped her to discover her future career. Through an internship at Passavant Area Hospital, Abbey discovered a passion for helping others through occupational therapy. She graduated from the Washington University in St. Louis occupational therapy program in 2023.

During another summer experience, she worked on a community garden. She also was on the swimming and diving team as a first year, worked in the IT department, was an ambassador for the admissions department, participated in undergraduate psychology research, was a member of Chi Beta and helped found and lead the student group Future Health Professionals. Through the Center for Academic Excellence, Abbey found support in the Yates Fellowship Program and TRIO Student Support Services and a mentor in Amy Schwiderski '91, director of the Center for Academic Excellence and TRIO.

"I could just sit down in her office and tell her what's going on. Even if she couldn't help me, she pointed me in the right direction. Sometimes just sitting down in her office, she would offer me a piece of chocolate or something because I was having a bad week. She's one of those people that pushes you when you don't think you need to be pushed and pushes you to be better."