It was as a young, naïve, and intimidated freshman that I walked into the introductory class for the Child and Family Development program at the University of Central Missouri.  Eager to learn, and anxious to find out if I was really interested in this field I had declared my major in, I sat down in the front row.  My professor, Dr. F. Ryan Peterson, lectured that first day on Broffenbrener's Ecological Model. His unique teaching style and passion for the field seeped through in those fifty minutes.  I recall walking out at the end of class with a complete sense of satisfaction and contentment. Yes, this is what I was going to major in, and yes, I had found my niche.

As the semester progressed, I would catch myself applying my new and budding knowledge at the most inopportune moments.  I have a particular memory of watching a movie with my roommate, and one scene depicted a mother telling her son, "We are the Malby family, we are good drivers, this is who we are."  I turned toward my roommate and shouted, "That is their family theme! We talked about this in my Family Systems class!" Examples like these are numerous and illustrate the excitement I felt as I was growing into my "family scientist" shoes.

The second leg of my scholastic journey, one that I am still in today, has been characterized by the long and exciting study of research.  After attending NCFR's annual conference in 2010, I knew that I wanted to participate more thoroughly and actively with NCFR.  I was drawn aback by how genuinely kind-spirited, warm, and zestful the individuals present were.

I asked my professor Dr. I. Joyce Chang to mentor me into a research project.  Little did I expect the phone calls at 11 p.m. that I would be receiving from her, the numerous precise and astute comments she would leave on the draft of my proposal, or how she would still be making suggestions and encouraging me to edit my final draft on the same day as the deadline for submission.  She challenged me more than I have ever been challenged and reminds me of the character of Ms. Blu Rain in Sapphire's novel "Push."  In a key scene, Precious laments, and cries out, "I'm tired."  Her teacher states "I know you are but you can't stop now, you gotta push."  Many times Dr. Chang helped me push through and challenged me to be the best version of myself.

I often compare my journey into the field of Family Studies to gardening.  To make something grow, there are three essential elements:  the seed, Mother Nature, and a gardener.  Here I was, this tiny seed being planted in fertile ground, and just as a seed already has the DNA and the proteins to become what it was meant to be, I had the strengths and drive to be a good student of Family Studies.  All I was missing was for someone to make sure I pushed through the dirt, to give me the natural resources to develop, and tend to me patiently.

I wish to extend a warm thank you to Dr. Peterson, for sharing with me his love for Family Studies and all the effort, time, and interest he provided to shape me into the student I am today.  You have provided me with strong and solid roots for my future.

And to Dr. Chang, for always expecting the best from me, and never settling for less. I do not know who my future mentors will be as I enter graduate school, but I hope and pray that they will be as warm and genuine as my professors at UCM have been to me.