Rebecca N. Lang ’12 a neuroscience major currently enrolled in a graduate program at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH.
To me, a liberal arts education is about being passionate. When I started college, I had no idea what I wanted to study, but I knew that I was passionate about chemistry, biology, and psychology. Luckily for me, Wooster had just started its formal neuroscience program, and I didn’t have to sacrifice an education in any of those subjects. At the time, it felt like cheating; my friends at state schools had to pick one narrow and well-defined major, and I was able to take advanced courses in a variety of subjects, with some introductory courses in a range of disciplines on the side. I had no plans for what I would do with a neuroscience degree upon graduation, but I knew that I was passionate about the subject. My Wooster professors demonstrated the same enthusiasm for academics and for collaboration, and they shared that with their students every day. I think that’s what made my undergraduate experience so unique—taking an evening to go see researchers at other colleges present their work, meeting my advisor on a Saturday afternoon to scrutinize I.S. data, and presenting my research at state and national conferences. I’m currently enrolled in the accelerated Master’s of Nursing program at Case Western Reserve University, and I’ll take my licensure exam to become a Registered Nurse in May 2014. I will ultimately pursue an MSN degree to become a nurse practitioner, though I have not yet chosen a specialty. While in school, I am working as a nursing assistant at Cleveland Clinic on a neuroscience floor, where I am able to use my Wooster neuroscience education to collaborate with patients and their providers about their care. Though my ultimate career path isn’t yet decided, my education at Wooster taught me that I will succeed as long as I follow my passion and live my life with enthusiasm. I know that my Wooster experience has helped me to become more confident and caring, and I know that those qualities will ultimately help me become an excellent healthcare provider.