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Hearing Stephanie tell her story makes it quite clear that she loves the path that she has chosen as a Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) major with a Pre-
Med Concentration. After sitting down with a faculty member, Stephanie discovered that the MLS curriculum was a course of study that she found very interesting.

Stephanie took a class in Phlebotomy (the science of blood sample collection), and was able to take the skills that she learned in that course and get her foot in the door in the medical field. She now has a part time job with Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover, which allows her to interact with doctors. Not only does she get
experience working in an actual medical laboratory, she gets direct mentorship from doctors and other medical professionals. The experiences she is getting at Wentworth
Douglas has given her valuable insight into a hospital’s infrastructure and relates very closely to what she is learning in her classes.

Another interest of Stephanie’s is teaching. This has helped her to stay connected to some of the subjects that she loves, such as anatomy. Stephanie leads study groups for first-year anatomy students and takes great pride in preparing lessons, study guides, and lecture summaries complete with power point slides for these groups. The energy put into these study groups is something that Stephanie sees as very rewarding and worthwhile: “If you invest in others, they will invest in you.” Additionally, her experience as a Teaching Assistant has allowed her to develop collegial relationships with one of her favorite professors, Joyce Stone. Stephanie admires Professor Stone’s energy, love for the subject material, and her efforts to make her classroom interactive. Stephanie says she feels that Joyce treats her as an equal and that she has even met her parents.

Stephanie’s academic interests do not stop with MLS courses. “I have had a lot of really diverse connections not in just one department,” she says of her experience with taking general curriculum courses. At first the prospect of taking a history course did not fully appeal to Stephanie. However, after taking U.S. and World Affairs with Professor Stacy Vandeveer, she fell in love with Political Science. Since taking the course, Stephanie has become a frequent viewer of CNN, and has decided to take on a political science minor.

Living on campus has been a very important part of Stephanie’s UNH experience. Having grown up in nearby Rollinsford, NH Stephanie could have easily commuted from her parents home. However, she has found a wealth of campus activities that have enriched her academic education. Stephanie has worked with the admissions office, including serving as a tour guide as well as talking to incoming COLSA students. In her first two years at UNH Stephanie served UNH as part of the Campus Activities Board. With all of these activities Stephanie has found balance by going to the rec
center. Going to the gym has helped keep her healthy and energized in all facets of college life. One of her favorite activities is Broomball. “It may be the best thing ever invented.”

Stephanie has big plans for her time beyond UNH. She is interested in attending school to become a physician’s assistant and perhaps medical school as well. She can also see herself teaching on the collegiate level or working in a field that combines her Political Science interests with her interests in healthcare.

Perhaps the most striking indication of Stephanie’s success here is her attitude. She attributes much of her success to the support of parents, friends, and the UNH Community. A keen understanding of happiness has also been a guiding ideal. Stephanie says: “It takes a lot to put me in a bad mood . . .you’ve got about eighty some odd years on this earth. Are you really going to care about something [bad] in two days.” Stephanie’s positive choice of attitude has made her UNH story one of success that will extend no doubt well into her future.