Kayla Virts '14
What was your major in school?
I majored in psychology and minored in business.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I graduated from Nazareth the Spring of 2014. I loved my time there and it inspired me to work with college students in the field of Higher Education. Currently, I work as the CARE Network Coordinator at the University of Rochester. The CARE Network is a student support network designed to identify students who are headed towards distress and connect them to appropriate resources on campus. In my free time I enjoy being outdoors, hiking, cooking, and running. I am currently training for a marathon in September!
What internships and activities did you do?
During my years at Naz, I was involved in a few different internships. I traveled to Florida to participate in the Disney College Program for a semester. I did two internships with The Make-A-Wish Foundation in Rochester. The first internship was in special events planning and the second was in the area of development/fundraising. My final semester at Naz, I did an internship with our Student Conduct Office.
How did you get involved with Career Services and what resources would you recommend to other students?
I came into Naz undeclared and was very unsure of what I wanted to major in. The spring semester of my freshman year, after not having any luck picking a major and not having a clear career path, I decided to go to Career Services. There, I was given a few assessments to help me delve deeper into finding a major and a career field that would fit. The assessments provided more insight into several careers that matched my personality and fit my goals.
I would recommend that students use the many resources that Career Services has to offer. The staff members can help with anything from picking a major/career to job searching and professional matters. I utilized Career Services a lot during my senior year; they helped me tremendously with the resume and cover letter writing process. They also gave good tips on networking and job searching engines. As a recent graduate, I plan continue to use the office for guidance with interviewing skills and job searching. The counselors are very knowledgeable, helpful, and go above and beyond for Naz students.
What do you like most about being a Nazareth College student?
I enjoyed my time at Nazareth very much. My favorite part about being a Nazareth student was that I never felt like I was just a number. What stands out to me to this day is how welcoming and helpful people at Nazareth are. Many of the faculty, staff, and students go out of their way to help students succeed and meet their goals.
What are your plans for the future?
It is my plan to pursue the field of Higher Education, specifically in the area of Student Affairs and Student Support. I have met incredible people in these offices at Nazareth and am excited about entering this field. I have been inspired by the enthusiasm and passion for supporting students that many of the staff have for their jobs. Currently, I am enjoying my position at the University of Rochester and am looking into pursuing my masters degree in either Higher Education or Mental Health Counseling.