Throughout completing my neuroscience portfolio, I realized how much I’ve learned about not only neuroscience itself but also about myself as an individual and the world around me. I can see a clear difference between the portfolio items I completed early versus late in my undergraduate career, and it’s very fulfilling to reflect on how I’ve developed as both a student of neuroscience as well as a researcher. For example, the oral presentations I created early in my career were simplistic in both content and design with not much structure or organization behind them. If the slides or script were more complex, the project was likely completed with a partner or group. I look at oral presentations that I completed later on in my career, however, and there’s a substantial improvement in quality and effectiveness even regarding projects I completed individually. The same trend is true regarding my research and other written projects. There’s a marked difference between the logical flow, organization, and displayed knowledge in my older versus newer work, and I believe both my scientific literacy and communication skills have significantly improved since becoming a neuroscience major. It’s also important I thank my neuroscience major for fostering the greater confidence and oral presentation skills I’ve gained from completing these interactive, engaging projects on a regular basis. I was extremely shy growing up but was able to overcome the difficulties which I attribute to a few different parts of my life, but definitely in part to my neuroscience major. Neuroscience is difficult, and there is no denying that fact. Being able to present on topics so complex while still keeping a calm, cool composure is one of the greatest strengths I’ll be taking away from my time at Washington and Lee University.

Through the various projects I’ve completed, not only did I learn about neuroscience and research surrounding the field, but I also learned about myself and how capable I truly am. I created an exercise psychology podcast during my fall term of senior year in 2022 for a course titled Myth of Multitasking. I believe out of all the items in my portfolio, I stretched myself the most and took the greatest risks for this assignment, because a podcast was completely out of my comfort zone. I remember hearing that my brother had done one with his friend one time and thinking, “what in the world? Never would I ever.” Individually, we were required to research professional sources in psychology in order to take a stance on whether a common exercise psychology “fact” was a “hit or myth.” I was nervous when I learned about this assignment – I had to create a podcast, alone? I had never created my own podcast before, and I cringed out of shyness and a slight fear of failure anytime someone mentioned the idea to me. We had to create a seven minute script which ended up being very helpful during the recording of the actual podcast, and I realized my initial hesitation was unreasonable. Creating the podcast ended up being one of my most enjoyable projects I’ve completed during my time at W&L. I was able to research and learn about a topic I found extremely interesting and present it in a way that showcased and embraced my own oral presentation style and neuroscience-related interests. While this challenge was new and unexplored, it’s pleasant to now look, or better yet, listen, back and reflect on the hard work I put into the assignment to have it completed to a merit worth sharing. There are definitely strengths and weaknesses, as there are with the completion of any project, but I’m satisfied overall with how the podcast turned out.

My most satisfying work, however, would have to be the obesity policy paper. As one of the first full-length scientific papers I finished completely on my own, I believe it showcases my ability to effectively convey and analyze scientific information. Not only did it require research to learn about the topic, but it also required strong scientific interpretation skills to think critically and problem-solve regarding the issue at hand. Throughout completing the paper, I learned a great deal about obesity in America along with different nutrition label approaches that have been previously used in attempts to influence consumption. It was intriguing to brainstorm with my own thought process different ways to combat obesity through policy measures. I believe the policy I proposed would help decrease the prevalence of obesity in America, but getting a new or revised policy passed through the government is a remarkably difficult accomplishment to achieve. There’s no way to know what will happen in the future, but it’s fulfilling to review the final paper once again, and I also appreciate the fact that I was able to complete the project on a topic of my choice. The obesity epidemic in America is beyond significant, so more research and awareness on the disease is imperative. I’m delighted to have been able to create a project on such an important topic, and I hope the inclusion of the paper in my portfolio will help to spread knowledge and awareness regarding the disease. 

All of the projects in my portfolio reflect how much knowledge and field-related skills I have gained since becoming a neuroscience major, but it’s important to note how much information is still unknown about neuroscience. Each time a research article is published, more research questions are asked because every single question can never be answered when it comes to the brain. There are endless worlds of science to explore in the human nervous system, so lifelong learning is a necessity in the field of neuroscience which is just one reason I’m drawn to it so strongly. Moving on from my undergraduate career at W&L, I’ll be attending Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) which will allow me to further expand my scientific knowledge and, more specifically, my field-specific neuroscience knowledge. Becoming a physical therapist will take me about three years, after which I can become certified and specialized in neurological physical therapy. As a neurological physical therapist, I’ll be able to treat patients who’ve experienced physical complications due to an injury or disease of the nervous system such as strokes, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s Disease, and more. My mind is open to other specializations once I learn more throughout the DPT program, but I’m excited to continue learning about neuroscience relative to healthcare. 

Attending VCU after graduating from W&L will allow me to continue broadening my neuroscience comprehension through academic education, but I also plan to further my knowledge on my own until I can’t anymore (a time which will never come until I’m dead). I learned so many fascinating lessons throughout my time earning my bachelors degree in neuroscience that I will never be fully satisfied with the amount of expertise I come to acquire. Neuroscience as a whole field will never stop expanding, and there are endless benefits to staying up to date on current research and applications. I’m beyond excited to see the innumerable directions the field will take in the future and am grateful to be able to consider myself an unofficial neuroscientist.

My first-ever mass communications class was during the winter of my sophomore year at Washington and Lee University, during what some like to call “the peak of Covid.” I took a virtual Introduction to Mass Communications course which I didn’t know would turn out to be my favorite of the semester. What initially attracted me to mass communications was the field’s firm dedication to the truth. This is not to sound patronizing, but I do place an especially high value on the truth. Whether seemingly good or bad, the truth is the truth, and people deserve to know that truth no matter what. I took Media Stereotypes next which further solidified my desire to formally study mass communications because there was still such a clear significance placed on honesty. Mass communications is an entire field dedicated to revealing the truth? Sign me up.

Dedication to transparency was only one of the countless lessons I learned from the mass communications department at W&L. I took Introduction to News Writing next which changed my writing and my work ethic for good. I remember this class so vividly because it challenged me in a way I’d never been challenged before and in the best way possible. I’d never had to really step up my game in writing. I had always been a bit more advanced and scored higher than average on written/verbal portions of exams, but Professor Coddington warned us on the first day of JOUR201 not to expect the same. I was scared at first, but the “warning” was so encouraging that I was eager to take on the constructive criticism I knew was coming. I’d be able to apply the lessons and corrections to all my future projects including works for my mass communications minor, my neuroscience major, and my future career in physical therapy.

I give credit to JOUR201 more than any other for teaching me to balance attention to detail with rate of production. I had to learn to produce papers within a given time frame while still making sure the smallest of details were included and accurate. I’m a perfectionist, and one of my greatest weaknesses is trying to perfect a project at the cost of taking too long to complete the task. This course was right up my alley, emphasizing a heavy attention to detail, but it also significantly strengthened my ability to work efficiently at the same time. I took Public Relations Writing next for which we had a visiting professor who was impressed by the class’s writing abilities from the first assignment (again, I give credit to Introduction to News Writing). It was in this class that I cracked down on my ability to communicate with and appeal to a specific target audience and reach a tangible goal through that communication. While news writing taught me to communicate facts effectively and efficiently, public relations writing taught me to communicate both objective and subjective information to reach a measurable goal with an intended audience.

The last two courses I took in the journalism department were with Professor Abah, and they were Law and Communications and Crisis Communications. I’m sure anyone who has taken a class with Professor Abah would agree that she pushes you to your limits. Like the case in Introduction to News Writing, I mean that statement in the best way possible. These courses also took my writing and presentation skills to the next level. Not only have I seen significant progress in my productivity, but I have also experienced a growth in mindset regarding the application and analysis of academic material to the real world around me. I say with confidence that Professor Abah is one of the greatest professors at W&L, as her feedback always gives me a sense of “Yes, that’s good. Now, give me more.” I learned through these courses to take my work to the next level. If I thought my analysis or response was complete, I knew that thinking ahead one step further would open a whole new idea for exploration. That is the truth applicable to countless situations in life, and I’m thankful to have learned such a valuable lesson before finishing my time in Lexington.

The lessons noted above, along with the myriad of others I’ll be taking away from the mass communications department at W&L, were not only useful for my mass communications courses, but I was able to apply them to my neuroscience major as well. A large portion of the neuroscience major consists of research including both hands-on and review techniques. With that research comes scientific papers – or to phrase it better – reading and writing many, many scientific papers. If I was still a first-year, I might complain at the end of that statement. Research was never my most keen interest, and it challenged me more than most other aspects of science. My fellow neuroscientists are cringing right now, but I’ve written so many papers now that research has become a genuinely enjoyable and almost routine process for me. I’m able to efficiently collect and transform a plethora of facts, data, and objective information on a certain topic into narrowly focused, digestible, and engaging written, oral, or visual content.

Starting this summer of 2023, I’ll be studying at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to study within the mass communications department at W&L, and I know that the lessons I’ve learned about writing, presenting, team building, leadership, efficiency, and more will come in handy once I arrive at my next destination. Through shadowing, interviewing, and researching experiences, I already know that the field of physical therapy often employs many of the same skills which I now have been blessed enough to practice extensively. I look forward to applying the mass communications values, knowledge, and techniques I’ve learned throughout my undergraduate experience to my future academic studies and healthcare career in physical therapy.