Nicole Constance
Year: Senior
Hometown: Fredericksburg, Va.
Major: Psychology and anthropology
Career goal: Professor and researcher at a large research university.
Living on campus
“Living on campus my freshman year really connected me to the university.”
“I lived on campus my freshman year and it really connected me to the university. It’s a way of keeping that connection and knowing what’s going on around campus.
“After my freshman year, I became a resident assistant. I really do enjoy being an R.A. in a freshman building, like Brandt Hall, because the freshmen need that guidance and support, and it’s fun to be the one to help them.”
Honors Summer Undergraduate Research Program
“I was in the HSURP program with Dr. [Wendy] Kliewer, a professor in the Department of Psychology. Her research focuses on understanding stress in children and adolescents. I got on her research team and very quickly went from a regular lab student to a lab supervisor. I found once I got started, I really enjoy doing research.
“It’s a great program and you get the opportunity to do research as an undergraduate. Dr. Kliewer and I are also planning to write an article on a project that we’ve been working on. Our participants are Richmond-area families living in poorer neighborhoods. I have spent about a year coding interviews with maternal caregivers and a small group of fathers and father-figures on suggestions they would make to their adolescents on handling violence and aggression.”
The Honors College
“I would really recommend The Honors College because of the opportunities that not only The Honors College provides but also the opportunities you can make for yourself as an honors student. I think a lot of times when you introduce yourself to a professor and let them know you’re in the Honors College, they look at you in a different light.
“I liked the idea of getting to register early and have smaller classes. The extra opportunities it gives me makes me stand out from VCU’s very large student body. The special honors courses have been really helpful and a lot of times the professors give you more work to do. But that way they get a sense of what you’re actually capable of.
“I definitely think that not only does The Honors College provide all these opportunities, it gives you space to create your own.”
