Patchwork

My McNair Journey

I have always wanted to go to college. I came to La Crosse as a first-generation student, and as I progressed in my college career, I started to think about graduate school. After receiving an email about McNair, I applied, interviewed, and was accepted into the program at the end of my junior year. 

McNair provided an opportunity to do paid research over the summer, and I chose to focus on children and the support they receive after the loss of a loved one. I was not only able to learn and understand how to research, but I was also able to present my findings at a local research symposium.

McNair also funded a trip to Houston, Texas, where I was able to tour my first choice for graduate school. In Houston, I was able to see the city I may potentially live in, meet with professors I could be working with, and get information from current graduate students.

I am now working on my grad school applications, and McNair provides support by helping me prepare my materials, providing funding for my applications, and creating a community of scholars experiencing the same situation. From application work sessions to stress-relieving events to actually submitting the application with someone else's support—we do nothing alone!