I didn't have the specific idea that I wanted to study gerontology but I had worked in a nursing home, and it was a very positive experience for me. I felt so much reward every day—it was very gratifying to work with older adults every day. My parents saw this interest in me—I wasn't even familiar with the topic of gerontology. When I was looking at schools I saw that Ithaca had this program, and that's what brought me here.

At first I was going to get a business degree, something very generic. But then I started to enjoy gerontology—it draws from psychology and sociology, human behavior, community studies, different things. It drew my education away from the business aspects toward the liberal arts.

My minor is Health Communications. I chose that because I wanted to study marketing and I think that was a good fit for me. That's the beauty of gerontology—it's so broad that you can channel it in different directions. I took it toward the communications side. 

My internship was at the Center for Healthy Aging in California. I developed marketing materials, and I'd go to meetings for my supervisor, and pitch ideas about how to get more clients. It was awesome. The Gerontology Institute is small enough that you know all the faculty members, so when I wanted to do my internship in the Los Angeles area, I spoke with a faculty member and asked her if it would be possible to help me find something there. She knew someone who knew someone and I got connected with the people at the Center.

I did my field work at Kendal. I worked in the activities department helping them with the activities they were doing that day. It's fascinating the variety in older populations because Kendal has a lot of academic retirees. So during activity time you'd be reading plays or watching documentaries, and that sort of thing.

One of my teachers gave my cell phone number to a student who was considering majoring in gerontology. I spoke with him for about 10 minutes and I explained to him it's so broad, there's so many directions you can take it. There's so much variety, I don't think people realize that. The key is trying to channel that. At the Gerontology Institute they help you. You discover things about yourself. When you're eighteen, there's a lot of room to grow as a person. It's not like [you need to come here thinking] "this is who I am as a person and I'm going to be working in a nursing home." Instead you discover there's a lot of possibilities.

My advice to new students: always be optimistic and excited because you're getting involved in something that is unique, ahead of the game, and affects everyone. Gerontology is a good opportunity for anyone.