Emmy Aaron – Confidence: If You Don’t Believe In Yourself, No One Else Will!

Which tenet means the most to you and why?
The tenet at Louisiana Tech most important to me is confidence. This tenet is personally so important to me, and for many different reasons. Confidence is an underestimated quality and it is often not the most important quality that the majority of people will say they hope to embody. It was not mine either, until I learned that once you learn how to have confidence, it is so much to easier to embody every other quality important to you as a person. First impressions are everything and life is kind of like speed dating. You never know who you will meet and where, especially in a close community such as Ruston. If you have confidence in yourself, it sets you apart from everyone else, even if you do not think you are the smartest person in the room. I have learned in order to be confident, it requires a good work ethic, which is something that I strive to have every single day. It requires preparation and positivity. If you don’t believe in yourself, then no one else will either.

Background:
I was born and raised in Ruston, Louisiana and attended Choudrant High School. In high school, I ran on the varsity cross-country team for 6 years. My team won the state championship in 2010 and 2014, and was awarded the title of state runner-up in 2013. I was awarded the leadership award for cross-country both my junior and senior year. I also was a member of the varsity cheer team for four years, serving as co-captain my junior year and captain my senior year.

I was involved in many organizations. I held several leadership positions in Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), BETA honors society, Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), and Student Council.

I was voted Most Independent my senior year and awarded the Masonic Lodge Award by the community. I was salutatorian of my graduating class and chosen as Miss CHS by the faculty.

What career path have you chosen and why?
I have chosen the career path of Physician Assistant, something I am very passionate about. I love the role they play in healthcare field, working with a physician to bridge the gap of communication between providers and patients. This career path will allow me to spend more time with my patients than physicians are often times allotted. I will be able to interact and build relationships with them, while having more a more flexible schedule and less burdens outside of work allowing me to still prioritize the things important to me. Overall, I want to help people, create meaningful relationships with patients, and make them feel important or listened to. I am currently in PA school at LSUHSC-Shreveport.

Why did you choose Louisiana Tech?
I chose Louisiana Tech because being from Ruston, it is impossible not to fall in love with the community. It always intrigued me how Tech is kind of its own little world inside of Ruston, bringing so much diversity to the community. I grew up watching friends and family members love this university, coming to events here, and seeing how much everyone else loved their university as well.

Why did you choose Kinesiology?
I chose Kinesiology as my major because I initially wanted to become a Physical Therapist. When I finalized my decision to pursue being a Physician Assistant, there was no doubt in my mind that Kinesiology was the best major for me to continue my education.

What things do you like best about the department?
I love so many things about this department. I hate to be cliché and say how we are a family here, but it is true. Out of all of the courses I have taken outside of my major, no other department functions like we do. When you come into memorial gym, you pass your professors and they want to actually have a conversation in the hall way. You look forward to coming to class because every professor in this department does their best to make everyone feel at home and leaves no one out. One of the most important things that I contribute to any success I have had thus far are the communication skills that Kinesiology has given me. I remember my first Kinesiology class stressed how important communication is in any field we choose to go into after undergrad. I knew this was important then but I really understand it now. I have discovered that these skills are what set us apart from friends in other colleges, which I contribute solely to Kinesiology at Louisiana Tech. We do not just learn the information we are supposed to learn, but we learn how to communicate that information to others not in our field, while showing empathy and compassion. We are constantly encouraged to make connections, reach out to people, and get out of our comfort zones. Our faculty are driven and are constantly trying to better things for us. You are who you surround yourself with and who better to do that with other than motivated and determined people??

What community activities are you involved in?
I was involved in several organizations on campus. I am a member of Kappa Delta sorority, where I have served on the homecoming committee for two years and homecoming alumni tea chair. Through Kappa Delta, I became a Gamma Chi, which serves a sorority recruitment counselor to help girls coming through recruitment. I loved that position and the relationships I formed so much that I served as Recruitment Counselor Director, a position on Panhellenic Council. Over the past year, I have selected this year’s Gamma Chis and trained them so that they can do their job in the most effective and efficient way possible. An important aspect of this job was showing the gamma chis how to form genuine relationships with the girls they were responsible for, something very important to me in every aspect of life.

I have been a member of ESPE, a club open to all Kinesiology majors for three years and also a member of PEK, the Kinesiology honor fraternity. I am a member of Order of Omega, the Greek honors society on campus.

This community is very important to me, especially having grown up here. I have coached the Choudrant High School varsity cheer team for 3 years now. I have loved being a part of each girl’s life and watching them grow throughout high school. Through Kappa Delta, I have had ample opportunities to interact and support our local philanthropy, the United Methodist Children’s home in Ruston. I am also a member of Douglas Church.

What is the best experience you have had in Ruston?
The top experience that I have had in Ruston has definitely been coming to Louisiana Tech and seeing how we interact with the community. I love attending events hosted by Tech, that I have always attended but I now have a part in hosting them or understand the background of it.

What are some of your favorite educational experiences, classes you have had at Louisiana Tech?
One of my favorite educational experiences has been volunteering for the Special Olympics. I have met so many great people each year I have been able to volunteer and nothing makes me happier than seeing how happy this event makes the participants. Another plus of our department would be the practicums we are required to complete. My first practicum I got to participate in the senior adult fitness program’s water aerobics class. It was the best hands on experience where we got to interact with senior adults in our community. Some of my favorite classes have been Kinesiology 292 (Preventative Health and Wellness) and Kinesiology 408 (Physiology of Exericse). Kinesiology 292 is one of the most fun classes I have taken in college. You get to know your classmates, learn valuable information, and participate in fun activities throughout the whole quarter. Kinesiology 408 was such an interesting class to me, I love learning about how the human body functions and how I can apply that information to benefit me in my future career.

Graduation date? What are your future plans?
I graduated Winter 2020 and currently attending PA school at LSUHSC-Shreveport.

What advice do you have for our freshman?
My most important advice for incoming freshman would be to get involved. I am a firm believer of the saying “you get what you put in.” Go introduce yourself to your professors, go see them when you do not understand, make friends with your classmates. I have been with the same group of people since my first Kinesiology class in college and I would not have made it this far without them! We are truly a family, so take advantage of that. This department is connected to the community in so many ways and truly opens so many doors for us. Don’t ignore that!

What would you say to a high school senior trying to decide where to attend college to influence them to come to Louisiana Tech?
My advice would be to just come explore tech, attend Time out for Tech, or go on a tour. Once you see current students and how they interact with the college itself, there will not be any question of where they want to attend college, go Dogs :)!