Students in Research: Emma Suplizio

It started as an interest in the human mind. Then, getting to know the Penn State College of Health and Human Development , helped fourth-year student Emma Suplizio choose the career path leading her to clinical mental health counseling. Hear more about that journey in her own words in the latest Students in Research spotlight.

What influenced you to go into a scientific field? ?

I always knew I wanted to study the human mind in some capacity, originally leaning towards a major in psychology. However, Human Development & Family Studies ended up being a better fit for me as it includes topics within psychology and sociology which is very interesting to me. It also opened the door to career paths I had never considered, such as clinical mental health counseling which is what I am aiming to pursue after graduating this upcoming spring.?

How have your dreams manifested in the research you are doing now? ?

I wanted to make a valuable contribution to my field in some way, and this research has helped me do so. I realized this once I had presented my research, specifically at the Eastern Psychological Association Regional Conference in Philadelphia. So many professionals were interested in my research, asking in-depth questions and taking photos of my poster, saying that what I had done was going to help a lot of people. That was an eye-opening experience for me that showed my work had impacted not only the 美国宾夕法尼亚州立大学 community, but also the scientific community as a whole.?

So many professionals were interested in my research, asking in-depth questions and taking photos of my poster, saying that what I had done was going to help a lot of people. That was an eye-opening experience for me that showed my work had impacted not only the Penn State University community, but also the scientific community as a whole.?

Tell us about any interesting paths or milestones along the way to your current place in Penn State Research.?

Starting in high school, I was named valedictorian of my class which was an honor that I had been working towards for my entire high school career. It helped me land important scholarships to fund my Penn State education. Coming to Penn State as a soon to be first year, I interviewed to be a member of the Penn State DuBois Honors Scholar Program, a program that encourages scholarly excellence and research experience as well as traveling to gain knowledge about the world around you, and was accepted into that program. With the Honors Scholar Program, I was able to travel to Switzerland and France last year, and Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and The Netherlands this year. This allowed me to include some international aspects into my research. I also received the Erickson Discovery Grant last year, which was a huge accomplishment that really propelled my research forward by providing me with the proper funding to commit myself to my work in a way that would not have been possible before.?

Why did you choose Penn State for your education in the sciences? ?

Penn State is known as one of the top research universities in the world, so that definitely influenced my decision knowing I wanted to do undergraduate research. Other factors went into my decision such as being able to go to a commonwealth campus close to home, having a smaller professor to student ratio, and the overall outstanding atmosphere the faculty and staff of the DuBois campus creates for students.?

From your perspective, how do you think your experience at Penn State is different from what you may have gotten elsewhere? ?

I do not think I would feel the sense of belonging that I have found at Penn State at any other well known school. The research process has been seamless for me, and I feel like the people around me really care about what I am studying and take a real interest in what I have done. At any other university, it may be easy for my project to be lost in the busyness of research programs. Penn State's program is busy too, but I truly feel like my project matters to people on campus, and that support is special to me.?

I do not think I would feel the sense of belonging that I have found at Penn State at any other well known school.??

How do you think the Penn State facilities, equipment and faculty have contributed to your experience? ?

I was able to conduct all of my research thanks to Penn State's library resources as well as using campus spaces to conduct focus groups with students who volunteered their time to help me. My professors have all been very understanding if I needed to miss class to go present at a conference which made me feel very supported. I am especially grateful for my research mentor, Dr. Sarah Pierotti , who guided me throughout my entire project, helped me set everything up, helped me code each phrase of each focus group for hours, and was ultimately extremely supportive and great. I do not know how I would have done it without her wisdom and support.?

Where do you want to go once you graduate? ?

After graduation, I plan to pursue a Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. With this degree, I hope to become a clinical mental health counselor working with adolescents who are struggling with their mental health. My research was directly related to this career path, so it has helped prepare me for my future endeavors.?

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now??

Ten years from now I hope that I am working as a clinical metal health counselor and continuing to impact the field in a positive way.?

Students in Research Series:

This is part of a series highlighting the powerful stories behind our students within research programs at Penn State. In our duty as a land-grant university, we are charged with teaching, research, and service, and all three of these are tied to our care of the student experience at Penn State University . It is our responsibility to nurture the students to their fullest potential, and alignment with their own vision and dreams is critical on this path. Emma's story is a prime example of Penn State Research making an impact on our future leaders in innovation. Have a story of your own? Contact Penn State Research !