By Nikki Marr
I knew I wanted to help people and that picking a degree about people would be a great starting point to hone in on my professional career from the start.
I chose to major in human development and family sciences at Oregon State and I’m so grateful for that decision.
A degree about helping people
The HDFS human services option has really helped me in my career because it taught me so much about the wide spectrum of human development and that “normal” encompasses a broad spectrum of experiences and behaviors.
I learned to understand people on a developmental level and approach my job from a holistic lens.
This educational journey prepared me well for my career.
Becoming a behavioral health counselor
I’m currently a behavioral health counselor for the Benton County Health Department. After I graduated from OSU in 2019, I got my master’s degree in mental health counseling at Western Oregon University where I grew my passion for helping others.
As a community mental health provider, I primarily see individuals in one-on-one therapy about two times a month. I love that I get to serve and support my community in such a tangible way.
I’m incredibly grateful for my decision to major in HDFS. It’s given me a truly unique counseling perspective, providing a depth of understanding that I likely wouldn’t have achieved with a different major.
Professional development
I really enjoyed the courses I took at OSU and learning about all the possibilities for my future.
As a student, I sought out professional development opportunities at OSU. I also loved exploring all the different activities the university offered and made one of my best friends there.
I was a head instructor for KidSpirit for two and half summers and part of the school year. I was also involved in Greek life and served on the leadership team.
Personal growth
I came to OSU with an unclear vision of my future self and career, but by the time I graduated I realized I had so much to offer my community.
College teaches us that we are each an essential piece of a beautiful community puzzle. Although we may be just one piece, our community cannot be complete without our unique contribution.
Some of my greatest memories are from my time at OSU. I learned a lot about growing up, leading others, knowing who and when to ask for help and a lot about myself.
I’m grateful to my friends, teachers, advisors, employers and OSU as a whole for helping me grow into the person I am today.
I absolutely loved my time at OSU! Go, Beavs!