Sports and athletics have been a part of my life since I was very young, often at the center of it. When I got the opportunity to continue my volleyball athletic career at a small, division 3 liberal arts school, I could not pass it up. One of the main reasons I chose to participate in athletics at the division 3 level was because my school encouraged athletes to participate in study abroad programs in their off seasons. This is something I did not think was possible due to the time-consuming nature of collegiate athletics, but I feel would be an invaluable experience to any college student, especially collegiate athletes. I have always been fascinated by European culture since I was a little girl and we took a family trip to Italy. I absolutely loved the architecture, food and music I was exposed to. Listening to and processing the speaking of another language at such a young age was a transformative experience. I went on to study three languages in high school with hopes of being able to use my skills in a European country where I could engage in total language immersion. Unfortunately, I was not able to travel in high school due to financial constraints. The culture and game of volleyball in Europe is something that has always been of interest to me. I have had several coaches who have played professional volleyball in European leagues and have spoken of the amazing opportunities this provided. Many of my coaches returned knowing other languages and having learned techniques we could incorporate into our game in the United States. If I were to study abroad, I would make volleyball a focal point of my trip. I would find leagues to play in and coaches to connect with to further my knowledge of the game. I also feel involvement in volleyball overseas would not only keep me in shape and further skill development but may also help me to learn a new language. Currently, I am pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in neuroscience at Skidmore College. This is an intensive degree that requires many hours of lab work. As an athlete, it is of the utmost importance that I plan my time wisely around my demanding school schedule. Next spring, I plan to study abroad in Vienna, Austria as a part of the Psychology and Social Sciences program. This will allow me to continue to take classes towards my neuroscience degree in both English and German. I will be exposed to the Austrian education system and will have the opportunity to live with both students also in the program and Austrian students. The Joey Cheek Traveling Athletes Scholarship would provide me the funds to travel as I have always dreamed of while maintaining my status as an athlete at my college. The experiences I will have will be invaluable to me as a person and as an athlete.

My favorite scientist is Dominique Vuvan, a scientist specializing in the intersections of neuroscience and music cognition. As a liberal arts student majoring in neuroscience, it is inspiring to see a woman in STEM who uses her knowledge to simultaneously be involved in the arts through music. Combinations of both STEM fields and the arts, especially within neuroscience, are necessary to understand human functionalities and how they manifest in society.