Abbigail Ely Email & Phone Number

They say up to 75% of students change majors in college, and I'm glad I was one of them. Born and raised in a small town in Illinois that's not Chicago makes you believe you have few career options. With no real idea in mind, I hoped I would figure out what I wanted in college, so I signed up for the local community college — safe and close to home. The first time I spoke with my advisor, she asked me what my major was, and I responded with what my mother would've chosen had she gone to college. Despite my genuine interest in the major, the further I got, the more I knew it wasn't for me. Two and a half years in, I dropped out. Terrified out of my mind and feeling like I had made the biggest mistake, I applied to Missouri University of Science & Technology. Two days later, I received my acceptance letter for the Spring semester of 2019. I graduated from MST with a B.A. in Psychology and Business and found my passion in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. I was a Psi Chi member and a research assistant, which led me to receive an award for my work on the research project. Funny how easy it is when something is for you. After graduation, and well into the pandemic, I had the opportunity to move to Texas, halfway across the country. Despite my fear, I had the same feeling I did before applying to MST. I sold everything I had, except for the things I thought could fit in my car (which ended up being six separate trips to the local donation center after it didn't), and packed my car with what I had left. I had worried a lot about how I would figure it out during each of these moments. I realize you become who you need to be when it's time. Then, when you're writing a LinkedIn bio, you realize just how much you've done. I'm grateful every day for my experience and am glad I am a part of the 75%. "Living with fear stops us from taking risks, and if you don't go out on the branch, you're never going to get the best fruit."