Melody recently graduated from Grand Canyon University in Exercise Science with an emphasis in Health Education. She is now back home and currently applying for graduate school to obtain her Masters in Occupational Therapy. If all goes well, she plans on getting her Doctorates in Occupational Therapy! One of Melody’s proudest moments while in college was pushing herself. This helped her graduate earlier than her peers. She ended up having to take many courses in one semester, but it was all worth it for Melody! Melody expressed that going away from home to attending college in a different state was the best, yet hardest decision she ever made. It taught her to be independent and experience what it is like to be an adult. Melody said, “It was extremely hard at first because I am super close to my family (I cried for a whole month straight!). However, I realized that instead of letting that hurt and fear take over me, I had to use it to my advantage and make it my motivation to graduate as soon as possible.” Despite it being hard to be away from home at first, Melody would recommend students to go away for college. She believes students will learn to value themselves and trust the process regardless of what life may throw at them. While in college, Melody was involved in the Occupational Therapy club as well as the Latino Student Union. Something she wished she knew before entering college was that it’s okay not to have everything figured out. Melody states, “I always felt the constant pressure of feeling like I needed to know what career I wanted to pursue. Being the first in my family to go to college was very hard because it felt as there wasn’t any room for failure, and I did not want to disappoint them. It honestly took a while for me to acknowledge the fact that my family was going to be supportive regardless of what direction I chose.” Melody thanks FACES as it helped with her decision to apply to colleges. “There were so many times where I felt so lost in the process of applying…I would go to the FACES room after school, having anxiety about everything! Luckily Alex and Ms. H were always willing to help me think about everything in a rational way. They are actually the ones who gave me the idea of becoming an OT.”
Melody Casas
