Emma knew she wanted to help people improve their quality of life, and Occupational Therapy does just that—helping individuals complete daily tasks that make life fulfilling. As Emma puts it, it's a field that truly adds life to the years ahead of the patient. 

She chose the University of Iowa because she saw herself not only fitting in but thriving academically, socially, emotionally, and personally. The built-in academic resources and support also played a major role in her decision, making her confident that she could happily create a life here, balancing school, work, and friendships.

When it comes to life at Iowa, Emma says it's impossible to pick just one favorite thing. She loves that there’s always something to do, whether it’s exploring a new coffee shop, taking a workout class at the CRWC, joining the Sunset Club to watch the sun go down, walking along the river, or cheering on the Hawkeyes at a football game. "Boredom doesn’t exist at the University of Iowa!" she adds.

Her most memorable experience so far was participating in her first experiential learning opportunity through her Elementary Psychology class, where she was a test subject for a graduate student’s research project. It was a great way for her to learn more about research, especially within the field of psychology.

Her advice to incoming students is simple: “Say yes to every opportunity campus presents, especially at the beginning of the year! You never know what fun memory you’ll create or who you’ll meet by getting involved.”