The Ramily bond doesn’t end at graduation. On a return trip to campus, Abby Burns ’25 offered a glimpse into her life as a young alum and the ways Cornell remains part of her story. Abby Burns majored in psychological sciences and is from St. Paul, Minnesota.
What have you been up to since graduation?
I am currently enrolled in a Master's of Social Work at Texas Woman’s University (TWU), while also working as a graduate research assistant and as a mentor in a thought leadership program at TWU. I plan to work in the mental health field, hopefully specializing in obsessive-compulsive disorder care for youth and young adults.
What inspired you to get your Master of Social Work?
I was inspired by Steve Neese, who educated me on the breadth of options that a social work program could give me and gave me all the tools during my senior seminar to apply to credited programs and put my best foot forward as an applicant. In addition, I had also taken courses in the sociology department that led to a personal internship with a domestic violence shelter in Minnesota, working with family programming, which I loved!
Looking back, what makes your undergraduate experience stand out compared to others you've encountered in grad school?
Discussing with my peers in graduate school, I believe what sets me apart is my time management, communication skills, and ability to create opportunities for myself in all situations. This was fostered and nourished at Cornell by the Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience program, as well as individual mentors, such as Steven Neese, Nicole Castle, Alice Ganzel, Krista Robbins, and many others across the college and throughout my undergraduate degree.
How did One Course At A Time prepare you for life after Cornell and your current coursework to get your master's?
The block plan–otherwise known as One Course At A Time–really prepared me for graduate school. It helped me with my time management and organizational skills. I think the Psychology Department specifically prepared me to work effectively with students and professors alike, in many forms of communication, from written to verbal. I am very grateful for my time in the block program and have benefited greatly from the academic and personal relationships that I made during my time at Cornell.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
The block program isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay, but if you are willing to put in the hard work and want a unique kind of education, Cornell College may be the best place to apply and hopefully create a home. I met lifelong friends and created valuable memories!