About Me
Growing up as the daughter of a Pediatric Emergency Physician and a Social Worker, the importance of helping others was always instilled in me. I knew that I wanted to pursue a career helping others from an early age, but I wasn’t sure in what capacity.
As I continued through high school, my passion for helping children flourished. It wasn’t until junior year of high school that my circumstances allowed me to see how I could turn my passions into a career. A medical diagnosis resulted in my being placed inpatient at a Children’s Hospital for an extended period of time. During this time, I was able to meet a wonderful group of professionals called Child Life Specialists. The Child Life Specialists on my care team provided me an extra level of care that was missing, and I instantly knew that Child Life was my calling. I was able to see how much they impacted my stay in the hospital, but I could also see how much value they have as a part of a care team for children of all ages. Since that realization, everything that I have done has been in pursuit of becoming a Child Life Specialist.
I attended Auburn University and received my Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in Child Life and a minor in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies. Along with developing a firm academic foundation at Auburn University, I have had the opportunity to work with children and families of varying ages and abilities, both in and outside of a hospital environment, through my volunteer work, Child Life practicum at East Alabama Medical Center, and Child Life Internship at East Tennessee Children's Hospital. These experiences have allowed me to be confident in my abilities to work with children and families in a therapeutic relationship, apply developmental theories, and be a part of a collaborative team.
I know that the knowledge, skills, and experiences I have gained through my academic work and applied practice have enabled me to enter the career field and be a successful child life specialist. I plan to sit for the Child Life Professional Certification Exam this coming August and look forward to starting my career as a child life specialist.