I was in HDFS as an incoming freshman so I had plenty of time to think about what my concentration should be. I changed my career goals three times during the first few semesters. First, I was interested in nursing and wanted to be a nurse at a children’s hospital; then I changed my mind and became interested in physical therapy, but I could only imagine myself working with children. I wasn’t really sure what exactly I wanted to do, but all of my career interests had something in common: they had to be child-focused.  What ultimately sparked my passion is helping children. Regardless of the profession I chose, I knew I could most effectively help children if I had a diverse understanding of how they develop physically, cognitively, and socially. The Child and Adolescent Development concentration led me to classes that helped me increase my understanding of children and prepared me to pursue the career of Child Life Specialist.

Berenise graduated early with a Bachelor’s Degree in HDFS in December 2020 and is preparing for a career in Child Life.