Gianna Baeza-Smith, now a senior, has evolved since she first arrived at 国产探花. 鈥淥ne of the most formative parts of my college experience was realizing just how much I was changing along the way,鈥 the Kyle, Texas native says.
But being open to change鈥攅ven for the better鈥攊sn鈥檛 easy. It often requires a willingness to look within and rethink long-held attitudes and beliefs. 鈥淭here were moments when I had to confront habits and ways of thinking that didn鈥檛 serve me, and in doing so, I realized there was a version of myself I didn鈥檛 like,鈥 says Baeza-Smith. 鈥淓ven though it was uncomfortable to do, it鈥檚 been a true blessing. In working through those parts of me, I have found a version of myself that feels more grounded and someone I can be proud of. It鈥檚 a version I hope to keep growing into long after graduation.鈥
Come May 9, Baeza-Smith will be graduating with her BA in sociology, but as her undergrad years close, she鈥檒l be entering a whole new phase of learning. 鈥淎fter graduation, I look forward to gaining hands-on experience in the workforce to build my practical skills and deepen my understanding of the field,鈥 she says. 鈥淥nce I have a strong foundation, I plan to apply to graduate programs in hopes of becoming a forensic psychologist.鈥
For those who don鈥檛 know, forensic psychologists work within the justice system, doing things like acting as expert witnesses, or as evaluators who assess the mental state of defendants. They might be criminal profilers or work in rehabilitation therapy. In short, they work in the space where the law and psychology intersect, and they can serve as anything from police consultants to victim counselors.
Clearly not a vocation for the faint of heart鈥攂ut Baeza-Smith isn鈥檛 dissuaded. In fact, she will be bringing her heart into everything she does. 鈥淚n the next chapter of my life, I hope to be a light in a world that can sometimes feel heavy or dark. I think kindness and compassion have become a little lost, and I want to bring those qualities back into the spaces I鈥檓 part of. More than anything, I want my life to reflect the same love Jesus has shown me, so the people around me can feel a little more seen, supported, and cared for.鈥