This project is a mechanical, interactive book that sheds light on Autism Spectrum Disorder, including its history, current understanding, and the challenges faced by individuals on the spectrum. The purpose of the mechanical and interactive elements of the book is to engage readers and encourage active learning, while promoting future memory recall of the experience and information. The content of the book is intended to educate readers on the complex history of Autism and its various presentations. There is a common misunderstanding that Autism has a very strict way in which it presents, and that it is more common for boys to have Autism than girls. This is incorrect and not frequently discussed outside of current Autism research. Autism can present as a wide range of behaviors, and can be entirely different for each individual. These misunderstandings have led to bias, flawed diagnostic criteria, and limited access to assessments, accommodations, and understanding. My hope for those who read this book is that they will learn, share their knowledge with others, and interact with people in a more understanding manner. 

Why St. Kate's? 

St. Kates has a great community and offers what I would like to study in addition to it's commitment to social justice and community involvement. While at St. Kate's, I have appreciated the conversations about real-world problems had in classrooms, events for students to have the opportunity for personal growth, and the core curriculum, The Reflective Women.  

Favorite honors class(es)!

I enjoyed "Squeezing a Jellyfish," which explored the topic of interpreting and how to best work with interpreters and those who require them. 

After graduation?

I plan to pursue a doctorate in occupational therapy, and currently hope to work in pediatrics while practicing before moving on to teaching. 

Bridging Beliefs: A Documentary on Shamanism’s Role in Hmong Culture, Healing, and Modern Life is an honors capstone project that explores how traditional Hmong shamanic healing practices continue to shape identity, spirituality, and community health in the modern world. Guided by interviews with Hmong shamans, educators, and healthcare professionals, the project documents oral histories, personal narratives, and lived experiences that are often absent from written records. As a Hmong woman who grew up observing these rituals but never fully understanding them, this project also reflects a personal effort to reconnect with and preserve my community’s healing traditions. This documentary aims to preserve cultural knowledge, highlight intergenerational learning, and offer viewers an accessible understanding of shamanism’s role within Hmong communities today. The film is designed for both Hmong and non-Hmong audiences seeking cultural understanding and younger Hmong individuals who may feel disconnected from these traditions.

Why St. Kate's? 

"I chose St. Kate’s because it offers a unique blend of values that really resonate with me, especially its focus on inclusivity, social justice, and empowering women. I wanted to be part of a community that supports these ideals and encourages personal and academic growth.  

So far, I’ve really appreciated how supportive the environment here is. The faculty genuinely care about student success, and the diverse perspectives in my classes push me to think more critically. I also love that I can engage in meaningful discussions that challenge me to see things from different angles, which has made my time here feel both empowering and fulfilling."

Favorite honors class!

The honors classes that I have taken up to this point all tie directly into culture and community, which is what inspired my current project. I've taken HNRS 4990: Honors Seminar: Hist, Art, & Intell in Spring 2023, HNRS 4990: Honors Seminar: Mni Sota Makoce in Spring 2024, and CORE 3990W: GSJ: Holistic Health in Spring 2025. These courses have been particularly impactful because they allowed me to explore how culture and community intersect with various disciplines. They’ve given me the framework to better understand the world around me, and their focus on these areas is what eventually led me to develop my project on understanding my own community. 

After graduation?

I wish to go to optometry school to make an impact on the community as a whole, but also within my Hmong community, where not many have the opportunity to become healthcare professionals. I want to help bridge that gap and provide access to care, as well as inspire others from my community to pursue careers in healthcare. This ambition ties into my broader goal of giving back to my community and improving the well-being of those who may not always have the resources or support to access healthcare. Just as my project aims to preserve and share cultural knowledge, pursuing optometry will allow me to contribute in a meaningful way to the health and future of my community.

We base this project on the known facts that women are under-researched and that women's educational opportunities need funding. We know that research on women and women's education is under attack from the current Trump presidential administration. In this project, we assume that the MN State Senate is, in theory, going to fund women's education and research on women to help mitigate the effects of the federal government's attacks. The goal of this research is to determine whether policy should implement funding for these two areas separately or, if given the opportunity, funding research opportunities for women in education can help fill the gaps in research on women. We compile data on St. Catherine University and NCUR undergraduate research projects into workable datasets. We then use those datasets to run linear regressions, descriptive statistics, and other statistical analyses to answer the question: Do women research women? The results of this study are used to formulate policy recommendations based on this preliminary data work surrounding undergraduate women's research topic demographics. 

Why St. Kate's? 

I chose St. Kate's because its close community and extensive opportunities outside of the classroom.

Favorite honors class!

My favorite honors "class" was my summer scholars experience focusing on the effects of Long COVID on psychological well-being.

After graduation?

I plan to attend medical school after taking a gap year to work on my application. 

This project consists of two illustrated picture books designed to help young elementary-aged children understand and emotionally connect with the pregnancy experience. The first book introduces fetal development through the eyes of a curious child who wonders how their future sibling is growing inside their mother, while the second book explains the physical and emotional changes the mother experiences during pregnancy. Together, these books aim to foster empathy, strengthen family bonding, and support children’s natural curiosity by presenting complex biological processes in warm, simple language supported by engaging visuals. The intended audience, children ages 4–8 and their families, was chosen because this is a developmental stage marked by rapid cognitive growth, frequent questioning, and an emerging ability to understand metaphor and narrative. This project explores whether child-friendly storytelling and illustration offer a more accessible and effective way to explain pregnancy than traditional didactic explanations. By tailoring the tone, structure, and visual elements to children’s developmental needs, the project seeks to determine how narrative-based science communication can support understanding, comfort, and connection during a family’s pregnancy journey.

Why St. Kate's? 

St. Kate’s offers reasonable class sizes, and has a great opportunity to connect with professors. It’s a good and comfortable space for women to learn.

Favorite honors class!

My study abroad experience during J-Term 2025 to London, Paris, Nice, Venice, Milan, Florence, and Rome.

After graduation?

To attend medical school to become an OB/GYN.

N/A

Why St. Kate's? 

I chose St. Kate’s because of its strong nursing program and my personal goal to provide culturally competent care and contribute to the diversification of the healthcare field. As a first-generation college student, it was important for me to find a school that not only supports women but also creates a welcoming and empowering space to grow. I have really appreciated the close-knit community here. The professors and staff are incredibly supportive and genuinely invested in student success.

Favorite honors class!

Squeezing a Jellyfish: The Complex Work of Interpreters, GSJ

After graduation?

After graduation, I plan to pass my NCLEX and begin working as a nurse. In the future, I hope to return to St. Kate's to pursue further education and ultimately earn my DNP.

Transportation systems are the veins of a city’s ecosystem. Denizens rely on public transportation, automobile streets, bike lanes, and train infrastructure to move about the city for work, play, socialization, and more. However, transit systems are notoriously car-focused in the United States, resulting in sprawling expansion, poor community health, increased mortality rates, and exacerbated racial inequality. This documentary explores the transit system in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, seeking to understand both its evolution and its envisioned future. The film features work by local organizations whose goals are to radically reimagine the transportation landscape by returning decision making power to the people, restoring racial and class justice, and advocating for sustainable improvements for the betterment of health, safety, and connectedness. Through interviews with historical experts and community members, audiences will relate private corporate interest to America’s reliance on personal vehicles, then accompany current activists on their missions to revitalize city navigation. Visual storytelling allows empathetic connection with the real people affected by transit system placement, efficiency, and livability. 

Why St. Kate's? 

 I decided to attend St. Kate’s because there was nowhere else that I could visualize myself spending the next four years of my life. The campus and the community have been the perfect backdrop for my education and personal growth. I’m so honored to forever carry with me the legacy of St. Kate’s. 

Favorite honors classes!

I took advantage of study abroad counting as an honors credit, and that has been by far one of my favorite experiences at St. Kate’s! Otherwise, I tremendously enjoyed “WTDN? The Legacies of Racist Housing Policies”, which inspired parts of my honors project. 

After graduation?

I hope to work in the Twin Cities within my field, then scope out graduate programs for economics or public policy either in the US or abroad. 

Children's mental health is often overlooked or misunderstood. Many adults assume children are “too young” to have experienced or fully understand the challenges with their mental health. This can lead to their mental health needs being minimized or ignored. This project explores how children can process grief and highlights the importance of supporting their emotional well-being during these difficult times, as well as acting as a tool for understanding for children. 

The goal for this project is to write a children's novel that focuses primarily on a young girl's life after the loss of her mom and how she deals with grief, anxiety, and the feelings that come with a loss like this, to talk about mental health in kids and the importance of education and normalizing it, as well as reflect on the challenges many children face after loss. 

To ensure I was creating a realistic and meaningful story on my board, I had mentors and an advisor who each had a background in working with children. Such as child therapy, psychology, pediatrics, nursing, and mental health. Their experience in their personal and professional life helped guide my writing to give me a better understanding of what children may struggle to express and how it may look. I also visited the university counseling center to learn more about how grief can look different at various ages, as well as what resources may be beneficial.  I reviewed stories on people's experiences, researched childhood grief and emotional development, and watched movies and shows to get a better understanding of what it looks like. This all helped me build authentic characters and themes grounded in real-life experiences 

Through this project, I found that storytelling is a powerful tool to normalize conversation about children's mental health. By sharing this story of grief through the eyes of a child, the novel encourages empathy, awareness, and a deeper understanding of how young people may feel and heal after loss. 

Why St. Kate's? 

nursing program 

Favorite honors class!

squeezing a jellyfish 

After graduation?

work as a pediatric nurse 

Exercise is a fundamental component of everyday life that consists of a balance between strenuous physical activity and recuperation. It is important to understand this balance and how each system in the human body interacts in order to perform overall function. While it is easy to observe the gross movements of exercise, the finer details within the body such as circulation, respiration, and digestion aren’t necessarily seen. In order to communicate the full extent of what the body is capable of, medical illustrations are utilized in a way to look deeper within and interpret what isn’t observed with the naked eye. Through the lens of exercise, medical illustrations can highlight systems and functions during aerobic and anaerobic activity, as well as the process of recovery. Such phases are important to understand the demand of the body and how it makes up for the stress it endures. This form of art is also necessary when it comes to the discussion of representation with anatomical models. Medical texts often default to images of slender, white, and masculine-presenting figures, largely due to historical research focusing on the male body more than the female body. With this series of medical illustrations in The Physiology of Exertion: Rest, Aerobic, and Anaerobic Phases, the focus shifts to underrepresented anatomical models who are essential to the progression of medical illustrations and inclusivity of physical activity. This project encourages all people to understand the concept of exercise and how one’s body functions during movement.

Why St. Kate's? 

I transferred to St. Catherine University beginning of my Junior year because they provided the Pre-Physical Therapy and Physical Therapy career path that I was looking for. The campus is also beautiful and makes me feel very at home. What I have appreciated most is the opportunities that this campus has provided for me to grow in my future career path and also as a person. 

Favorite honors class!

My favorite Honors class was my Welcoming the Dear Neighbor?: Legacies of Racist Housing Policies because I learned a little about housing segregation that I previously saw in my reflective women class. It was interesting to dive further into the cause and expand my knowledge into more political science.

After graduation?

I plan to attend graduate school at St. Catherine University in the Physical Therapy program. 

Labor unions have a long history of working to protect workers, from creating better working conditions, fighting against child labor, improving wages and benefits, and contributing to reduced wage gaps (by race and gender). Prior research demonstrates the  impact of union membership on wages in addition to non-wage benefits typically using regression analysis. This project aims to demonstrate the impacts the unions have on individuals and the benefits that they experience using a difference-in-difference method. Using a difference-in-difference method allows for causal effects to be estimated in relation to individuals' experience when they are a union member versus when they are not a union member and does not rely solely on correlation. For my project, I utilize a difference-in-difference model along with data from the Current Population Survey from 2010-2024. I hope to share the effects of unionization on the individual level, through the completed work of an academic paper and a pamphlet to ensure my work is accessible and able to support students.

Why St. Kate's? 

I chose St. Kate’s because of the welcoming and supportive environment that I felt when visiting St. Kate’s. I have particularly enjoyed being involved in the Economics & Political Science department (formally with research and TA’ing opportunities and informally with other students).

Favorite honors classes!

My favorite honors class has been the class working on the Welcoming the Dear Neighbor? project. 

After graduation?

I am not currently sure of what my plans are after graduation. I am considering going to grad school, but I may first take a few years to work and then go to grad school.

I have interpreted plant biology through art to make the concepts more easily understandable and accessible. The artwork is focused on types and development seeds, leaves, flowers, fruits, and roots. The goal is to help people understand the differences between different types of plants as well as parts of plants in order to connect further with the world around them.

Why St. Kate’s?

I chose St. Kate’s because of the community that I experienced from the first time I visited campus. I have appreciated how personalized I have been able to make my time here and the way the professors invest in us as students. 

Favorite honors class?

I really loved my Honors GSJ Course on the US-Mexico border, and I am looking forward to the Tarot course. 

After graduation?

I hope to join an artist in residency program to get more hands-on experience in working in the arts. 

“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” has become a cultural touchstone, inspiring countless adaptations across film, literature, games, and anime. Despite its widespread influence, the story has never received a direct, full-length anime adaptation comparable to works such as Anne of Green Gables. This video essay explores why a faithful anime version has not emerged, even as the narrative’s themes and motifs frequently appear in standalone anime episodes and broader genre conventions. By examining the manga Are You Alice? and Alice in Borderland, both of which incorporate recognizable elements from Lewis Carroll’s original text while diverging significantly in plot and tone, this analysis investigates how these works evoke the essence of Alice in Wonderland without functioning as direct retellings. Through this comparison, the essay aims to identify the narrative, cultural, and stylistic factors that allow these mangas to remain closely aligned with Carroll’s world while simultaneously establishing distinct identities, and to examine what prevents an “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” anime from being produced.

Why St. Kate's? 

I choose St. Kate’s because I liked the name when I was looking for colleges to apply to. I appreciate the closeness of the community here.

Favorite honors class!

My favorite so far has been phonetics.

After graduation?

My plans are to get a dog, work in a museum, and get an apartment.

"For nearly all of history, medicine has been predominantly based on male physiology. In doing so, the unique biological and hormonal differences of women have been overlooked. Ultimately, this has led to gaps in understanding how diseases present and progress differently in women. As a result, symptoms of conditions are misdiagnosed or mistreated in women due to the lack of focus in these differences. The gender bias in medicine highlights the urgent need for more inclusive research and healthcare practices that consider the distinct needs of all patients.

Understanding this need, and coupling it with my love for cooking and passion for medicine, I have decided to create a cookbook that focuses solely on women’s health. The cookbook will consist of six chapters, detailing common obstetrics and gynecology conditions, including pregnancy, PCOS, endometriosis, menopause, menstrual irregularity, and ovarian cancer. Within each chapter, an overview of conditions will be given along with unique nutritional needs and means to aiding symptoms with food, which will be followed by multiple recipes putting those ideas to use. This cookbook will be a means to shifting the focus to the woman, while providing information regarding nutrition practices that may be a helpful component in managing these conditions.

Why St. Kate's? 

I chose St. Kate’s because of the small, close knit community. I have appreciated the ability to connect with my professors and classmates in a more meaningful way, that has allowed me to make new connections and has brought forth many great opportunities. 

Favorite honors class!

So far, my favorite honors course has been ‘Mni Sota Makoce and Settler Colonialism: Communication and Theological Perspectives’. I am also looking forward to being involved in summer scholars this summer!

After graduation?

I plan to attend medical school to further my education. At this time, I have interest in becoming an OB-GYN physician, however I am staying open to new interests as I explore more specialities and gain experience in clinical settings.

Tuberculosis (TB), once a leading cause of death globally, has a long and devastating history, yet it remains a pervasive issue in the present day. In the past, tuberculosis, often called ""consumption"" due to the wasting away of the body, was widely feared and romanticized in different eras. Before the discovery of its bacterial origin, it was often shrouded in mystery, sometimes attributed to hereditary factors, miasmas, or even emotional distress. In the 19th century, it became associated with artistic and sensitive temperaments, leading to a peculiar romanticism surrounding the disease, particularly in literature and art. Although tuberculosis was primarily a concern in Western countries in the past, regions that still grapple with tuberculosis today, such as Sub-Saharan Africa and India, have been neglected. While effective treatments exist, unequal access to medication leaves vulnerable populations in low-resource settings without the care they desperately need. Drug patents, while intended to encourage pharmaceutical innovation, and the practice of ""evergreening,"" which involves obtaining new patents for minor drug modifications to extend market exclusivity, significantly hinder access to affordable tuberculosis medications, particularly in high-burden, low-resource settings. This limited access due to high prices leads to delayed or incomplete treatment, fostering the continued transmission of TB and the alarming rise of drug-resistant strains. These resistant forms necessitate longer, more toxic, and expensive therapies, further exacerbating the inequalities in access and making the fight against this ancient disease an ongoing and increasingly complex global health crisis. This project aims to examine the history and pervasiveness of the world's deadliest disease by juxtaposing its late 19th-century perspective with its current understanding. The project explores this topic through the creation of two exhibit-style clothing pieces. One is an artistic replication of late 19th-century women's outfits, with particular details given to show the romanticism of the disease at the time, as well as its toll on the body. The second piece is a contemporary school uniform modeled after the uniforms of one of the countries that currently has high rates of TB. The project also features a virtual component that will enable the sharing of more information and resources. 

Why St. Kate's? 

Favorite honors class!

After graduation?

Education offers a pivotal opportunity for moving between the barriers of socioeconomic status. Racial covenants act as a barrier which long acted as a tool to keep socioeconomic status stagnant. The interconnectedness between racial covenants and education becomes evident when viewing both qualitative and quantitative data from both rural and urban communities in Minnesota. As a university, St. Kate’s offers important resources to gain involvement in the Welcoming the Dear Neighbor project, which extends research opportunities to both faculty and students at the university. The purpose of this project is to further the work of the Welcoming the Dear Neighbor project, specifically in the area of comparing rural and urban racial covenants, with a focus on the impacts on both education and educational opportunity. This project contains a comparative literary and data analysis of rural and urban racial covenant research. Using data collected from Ramsey, Hennepin, and Stearns County, as well as the Mapping Prejudice project, this work offers important insights to consider in terms of continuing quantitative and qualitative research within the Welcoming the Dear Neighbor project. The usage of both an economic and a political science lens creates an interlinked analysis of how education systems and rural and urban communities have been impacted as a result of racial covenants. The project depicts the growing importance of understanding of racial covenants, their lasting legacy on education systems, as well as the crucial need for higher levels of data collection.

Why St. Kate's? 

I choose St. Kate's because of the mission deeply rooted in social justice. The people and environment in the Economics and Political Science Department were also a huge draw for me. I love being surrounding by others who are passionate and put their best foot forward. 

Favorite honors class!

Honors Seminar: Welcoming the Dear Neighbor?: Legacies of Racist Housing Policies

After graduation?

I am hoping to find a job in research following graduation, with an eventual plan to attend graduate school. 

Children's storybooks offer an opportunity to blend emotional learning with scientific understanding, which helps young readers build empathy while developing curiosity about the natural world. Research shows that visual storytelling supports conceptual development and makes scientific ideas more accessible to children. Exposure to nature based stories can counter plant awareness disparity and build environmental connection. In this project, these principles are used to create a children’s storybook that integrates art, narrative, and biological concepts to address social challenges and celebrate difference.

This project aims to create a storybook that uses emotional challenges in storytelling can provide a meaningful framework for introducing scientific concepts to young readers. I developed a narrative following a young opossum named Carmela who bullies her classmate and is then guided by her mother on a reflective walk through the forest. Along their journey, Carmela’s mother teaches her about three symbiotic relationships, bats and pitcher plants, fungi mycorrhizal networks and tree roots, and moths and flowers. These examples of symbiosis model how organisms rely on each other’s differences for mutual benefit, offering a biological foundation for understanding kindness and cooperation.

The project evolved into a cohesive story that aligns emotional growth with ecological understanding with the help and feedback of mentors, family, friends, children, and peers. The resulting book demonstrates how biology based storytelling can help children connect interpersonal behavior to natural systems, ultimately supporting scientific curiosity and empathy for nature and peers.

Why St. Kate's? 

I chose St. Kates to be near family and because of the welcoming environment. I have appreciated the way St. Kates allows for close relationships with professors because of small class sizes.

Favorite honors class!

My favorite honors course was Squeezing a Jellyfish because of the discussions sparked by course content.

After graduation?

I plan to search for a job in a biology research lab and continue with exploring new ways to combine biology and art.

This project develops comprehensive unit for a four-credit college class on Japanese history. The focus of this unit will be on helping students understand why large and historic Japanese castles uniquely emerged over time, and how they connect with Japanese history.

Why St. Kate's? 

I chose St. Kates for the programs and the size of the university. I have appreciated the opportunities to gain experience and travel with different mindsets. When we are challenged on our views and biases we grow the most. If I had any advice for future Katies it would be to take advantage of the opportunities for non-American perspective. Study abroad and GSJ are amazing opportunities to reflect on your experience and where you would like to be in the future. I am incredibly grateful to my advisor and my mom for encouraging me to step into new roles. 

Favorite honors classes!

Reflective woman, and my study abroad courses

After graduation?

I plan to teach English in Japan and work for international companies

We base this project on the known facts that women are under-researched and that women's educational opportunities need funding. We know that research on women and women's education is under attack from the current Trump presidential administration. In this project, we assume that the MN State Senate is, in theory, going to fund women's education and research on women to help mitigate the effects of the federal government's attacks. The goal of this research is to determine whether policy should implement funding for these two areas separately or, if given the opportunity, funding research opportunities for women in education can help fill the gaps in research on women. We compile data on St. Catherine University and NCUR undergraduate research projects into workable datasets. We then use those datasets to run linear regressions, descriptive statistics, and other statistical analyses to answer the question: Do women research women? The results of this study are used to formulate policy recommendations based on this preliminary data work surrounding undergraduate women's research topic demographics. 

Why St. Kate's? 

I choose St. Kate's because of the social-justice focus in the learning and the connections the professors are committed to building with each of their students. I knew that it would be  a space that would set me up for academic success and give me access to a number of different opportunities. 

Favorite honors class(es)

Most of my honors credits have actually come from my study-abroad experiences. I thoroughly appreciated my experiences both on my semester in Prague and my GSJ trip to India. I also have been really interested in the Welcoming the Dear Neighbor? honors seminar with Drs. Niewert and Lesinski this semester because it builds on my previous experience working with WTDN as a research assistant 

After graduation?

I am planning on a taking a few years to try a bunch of different things and narrow down what I am going to do for grad school! 

Microbial art that uses color palettes that closely resemble the vibrance and diversification of nudibranchs will enhance the connection between art and biology. The use of various bacterial strains that produce different colors will create a vibrant contrast that is representative of how unique nudibranch coloration is due to defensive evolutionary pressures, such as camouflage and aposematism. Nudibranchs serve as fantastic bioindicators of climate change, specifically the increasing temperature of seawater, which results in habitat loss and an increase in pollution.

Why St. Kate's? 

I chose St. Kates for their focus on promoting women's education, and creating a safe space for others to grow academically in male-dominated fields. I have made personal connections with my biology professors, and have felt supported in my pursuit for an undergraduate degree. I have also made fabulous friends with other Katies!

Favorite honors class(es)

The Reflective Women (TRW) -- I met many of my current friends in this class.

After graduation?

To attend medical school, and pursue pediatrics.

This project reimagines the nursing student clinical experience at the Foot Care Clinic within the St. Paul Opportunity Center. Its goal is to ensure that students arrive feeling confident, prepared, and supported as they care for individuals experiencing homelessness. To achieve this, the project brings together existing faculty-created materials and new student-designed resources into a clear, well-organized toolkit. This includes updated orientation materials, workflow and communication guides, quick-reference clinical sheets, client-education handouts, and more. In addition, the project develops a sustainable framework that future student leaders can expand, helping the clinic move toward a fully student-run model. By strengthening structure, improving consistency, and equipping students with practical tools, this project aims to enhance both the learning experience and the quality of compassionate foot care provided to the community.

Why St. Kate's? 

I chose St. Kates mainly for all the good thing I heard about the nursing program, I also really liked that it was a smaller campus. When I did my tour it really felt like a close community and that was really important to me, especially coming from a small town. 

Favorite honors classes! 

My favorite honors class so far has been Women, Aging, & Lit: Exploring the Science of Aging with the Stories of Literature.

After graduation?

As of now, I plan to work as a community and public health nurse in a more rural area of Minnesota, I may also purse a masters in public health later in my career. 

Why St. Kate's? 

I chose St. Kates because it is an all women’s college and I saw a need for me here. I have really appreciated the community I have found and created at St. Kates.

Favorite honors class!

The one by Amy Hamlin and Rebecca Berru-Davis a year ago (forgetting the title off the top of my head)

After graduation?

I’m not sure yet

"Letters to My Father: A Father Half Known but Fully Loved is an epistolary memoir that traces the shifting terrain of grief after the loss of my father, a relationship shaped as much by absence as by memory. This project begins with the simple but profound question: How do we continue loving someone who is no longer here? From that starting point, the project expands into an exploration of how meaning, identity, and connection continue to evolve long after death. Drawing on narrative therapy, expressive arts practices, and positive psychology, the memoir treats creative expression as both method and insight. It becomes a way of understanding grief while actively moving through it, and a way of examining how memory and love shape one another over time.

The purpose of this project is to create a written and visual narrative that honors the enduring relationship between parent and child while acknowledging the emotional complexity of loss. Each section of the seven sections includes a letter, a poem, and curated photographs or symbolic images that illuminate emotional themes and reflect the continuing dialogue I hold with my father. Throughout this process, I incorporated philosophical ideas about meaning, purpose, and the nature of relationships, weaving them together with the emotional truths revealed through storytelling and creative reflection.

Ultimately, this project suggests that grief is not a linear wound to be closed but an evolving relationship that can cultivate clarity, resilience, and a deeper understanding of love. It shows that even in the quiet that follows loss, connection can be rebuilt and meaning can emerge in the space where memory, hope, and creativity meet."

Why St. Kate's? 

I chose St. Kate’s for its strong academics and values. What I have appreciated most is the close relationships with faculty, whose support and mentorship have had a lasting impact on my growth.

Favorite honors class!

Women, Aging, & Lit: Exploring the Science of Aging with the Stories of Literature

After graduation?

After graduation, I plan to pursue graduate school to continue my education in public health. My goal is to obtain a career in medical research, focusing on grief, mental health, and addiction.

The purpose of this project is to create a comprehensive book proposal that explores the USWNT equal pay fight through academic research, personal narrative, and creative storytelling, with the goal of laying the groundwork for a future children’s book that promotes social justice education. It began as an idea for a children’s book about the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) and their fight for equal pay. As I met with my advisors, the purpose remained the same, but the scope expanded. I realized I was not only passionate about creating the book itself, but also about the research, analysis, and creative process behind it. For this reason, I chose to transform the project into a modified book proposal.

Preparing this project required extensive research into the history of the USWNT, the economics of the gender pay gap in sports, and existing children’s literature on topics of equity and social justice. This research helped me determine the final format, which includes three interconnected components.

The first is an academic section that provides historical context, examines key economic factors, explores the psychology of children’s learning, and analyzes comparative examples of similar children’s books. The second component is a personal essay that serves as an expanded author’s note, explaining the personal significance of this topic and how it intersects with multiple parts of my life. The third component is the creative modality, which includes chapter concepts, mood boards, and draft outlines that demonstrate how the book could develop into a complete manuscript. Through each step, I focused on creating a project that is both meaningful and practical to execute.

 Overall, I believe the project successfully integrates academic research, personal narrative, and creative design. While the children’s book itself remains a long-term goal, this proposal provides a strong foundation for future development. Ultimately, this project represents the groundwork for a book I hope to continue developing beyond this project, with the long-term potential to bring it into a real-world publication setting. 

Why St. Kate's? 

I chose St. Kates for it's tight knit community and small classes sizes. I have really appreciated the opportunities 

Favorite honors class!

My favorite honors class has been IPE with Dr. A and Dr. Campbell 

After graduation?

I plan to get my RN licensee and work at a local children's hospital. I eventually plan to get my license to become a nurse practitioner. 

"Decolonization is not simply a political process—it is a personal, communal, and relational journey. This is a journey aiming to seek to understand the Hmong community more deeply, it begins with unlearning colonial narratives, challenging assumptions, and embracing the complexity of Hmong history, identity, and resilience.

This journey invites learning to shift from “studying” the Hmong to building genuine relationships. It means listening to elders’ stories, participating respectfully in cultural practices, and recognizing the role of kinship, spirituality, and tradition in community life. It also requires understanding the diversity within Hmong communities—differences in clan systems, gender roles, generational experiences, and regional histories.

Ultimately, connecting to the Hmong community through decolonization is an act of humility. A journey of collecting stories and returning to the roots of oral history. It is a commitment to solidarity, cultural respect, and collective healing."

Why St. Kate's? 

I appreciate the strong sense of community. St. Kate's is a place where people support one another, and everyone is encouraged to grow. The student development is available to everyone personally and professionally and academically. This may be in the form of mentorship, hands-on experiences, and networking. St. Kate's is intentional in the support for their students. 

Favorite honors classes!

Honors Seminar: Cultures of Crossed Destinies: Tarot for Collective Transformation. The course involves analyzing and creating your own art. This provided a unique opportunity to meet with artists, learn about the symbolism of the cards, and offer your own insight of culture affect it. I highly recommend this course as a great way to connect with yourself, even if you don't practice tarot. 

After graduation?

After graduation, I plan to continue to build experiences and leadership skills. I aim to finish my graduate with an MBA. I hope to enter the financial industry.