Outstanding Senior Awards: Carolina Noriega
Each semester, the College of Science recognizes outstanding graduating seniors from each of its departments. Today's award recipient is Carolina Noriega from the Department of Psychology.
College of Science: Why did you choose your area of study?
Over the years, my interests in science have changed and expanded as I learned more about how diverse and complex it can be. When it came to psychology, my attention never wavered. If anything, it made me realize how much I love analyzing my environment and the world around me, and simply wonder how there are so many factors that affect us and our physical, emotional, and mental well-being that I never even considered! I love working in an area that allows me to focus on questions I have always thought about when I was younger, and I have never been more confident that this is the right direction for me!
COS: Tell us about a class or research project you really enjoyed.
I think what I am most proud of is my perseverance. Everything I have accomplished was far from easy, and while I could not have done it alone, I am truly amazed at the work and dedication I have put out despite the hardships and influx of responsibilities I had. My improvement as a student over the years is key to where I am now, and I am grateful for the challenges and obstacles that have helped me become the student I am today.
COS: What is one specific memory from your time at UA that you'll cherish forever?
My time as a Psychology Peer Mentor was one of the highlights as an undergrad! Not only did I teach freshmen psychology students how to navigate being a university student, but getting to know them on a deeper level and helping them figure out what they wanted to pursue or simply help them with whatever they needed was extremely meaningful. I loved working alongside the other peer mentors and the psychology advising team, and I feel extremely lucky that I was chosen for this opportunity! Definitely a memory I will cherish.
COS: What is next for you after graduation?
This fall, I am starting the Human Development and Family Studies PhD program at the UA as a grad student where I will be working alongside my mentors, Dr. Katherine Zeiders and Dr. Russell Toomey. I want to focus on Hispanic/Latinx adolescents/young adults and how they are affected by factors in their environment such as culture, family, and religion, and how that affects their emotional and mental well-being. I am extremely excited (and nervous) to start the next chapter of my life!