How I Found My Path At SLU
I didn’t come to college with a concrete plan for my future. As a freshman, I knew I was interested in medicine and health education, so I decided to major in neuroscience on the pre-med track. I took introductory classes in both fields and discovered a passion for each, but I decided to change my major to public health and sociology my sophomore year.
The summer after my second year of college, I went through a difficult life event which forced me to reflect on my journey and goals. I realized that the person I am now at 20 years old — a student halfway through college and a survivor of the notoriously difficult organic chemistry class — is vastly different from who I was at 18 years old, when I discovered SLU and St. Louis for the first time. I began to think about entering the University’s nursing program, which seemed like the perfect blend of my passions. I participated in SLU’s professional shadowing program for pre-health students to see what a nursing career might actually look like, and that solidified my interest in the field. It was scary thinking about switching programs as a junior in college, but my incredible SLU support system was there to help me every step of the way.
I didn’t have many people in my corner growing up, but my time at SLU has brought so much connection and support into my life: so many friends, advisors, mentors and wonderful professors. Cynthia Critchfield, my sociology instructor and mentor, has been an invaluable source of counsel and support throughout my academic journey. Critchfield taught my Introduction to Sociology class during my freshman year, and she quickly became a trusted academic advisor. Two years later, we still meet regularly for coffee or lunch to catch up. When I began to consider a career in nursing, Critchfield was the first person I talked to. Her thoughtful advice and steadfast support meant the world to me and gave me the confidence I needed to change my major for the final time.
Now I officially know what I want to do with my life: I want to join the U.S. Public Health Service to serve as an operating room nurse in rural communities in the western U.S., while at the same time conducting ethnographic research. I’m currently completing both my nursing and pre-med prerequisites before I join my accelerated nursing program. Thanks to SLU’s flexibility and support, I plan to graduate in winter 2027, even earlier than I initially intended or thought possible.
People often ask what led me to change my major so many times; I think I just needed time to figure out what field was right for me. The opportunities and academic programs SLU offers allowed me to discover what I really care about and want to do. I wouldn’t have found my path if it weren’t for my amazing classes and the support of the SLU community.
Sam is a junior at Saint Louis University in the accelerated nursing program. She is originally from San Tan Valley, Arizona.