Brianna Crowley
Junior // Women's Soccer
How has your experience been as a tutor in the Arcadia Learning Resource Network (LRN) this semester?
This is my first semester being a tutor for the LRN, so it's definitely different in terms of figuring it out and learning how to effectively help students. The entire introductory process started over the summer and I was excited to be more involved on campus in some capacity. Since being back to school, I have tutored students now and I actually enjoy it a lot more than I originally thought that I would. I tutor several different courses in psychology (Adult Psychopathology, Learning & Cognition, Research Methods, and Behavioral Neuroscience), as well as General Biology 101 and 102. I've definitely had to brush up on some of my past courses, but it has been a really rewarding process so far. I feel very resourceful being able to help other students and being able to connect with them since I was once in their same position.Â
What other opportunities have you taken up during the summer and the early stages of this fall semester away from campus?
This semester is very different for me since we no longer have a soccer season. Because of this, I definitely took up the opportunity to work more and make some extra money. At home during the summer, I work as a caretaker for a 22-year-old young man, Stephen, who has cerebral palsy. This is my third year working with him and I absolutely adore him. With classes online allowing for a more flexible schedule, I have been commuting home on the weekends in order to continue working with him. Being a caretaker, I work directly with his occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech therapists, so I have learned a substantial amount of very useful information over the past few years. Stephen is non-verbal and almost entirely wheelchair bound, so I help in feeding him, cleaning him, changing him, and doing a ton of fun activities as well, including riding his bike, swimming, reading to him, etc. I aspire to be a physician assistant in the future and Stephen has really taught me what it means to connect to someone and introduced me to a variety of new skills that I would have never had.
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How have you been staying ready for the women's soccer season over the summer and this fall while away from campus?Â
In terms of staying fit for our soccer season, I have been doing a lot. I usually play on a soccer team over the summer, but unfortunately was unable to this year due to the pandemic. However, I definitely started getting outside and running a lot more. I bought a very helpful, but cheap, barbell set as soon as quarantine started and continued lifting 3-4 times per week in my basement. I also tried pushing myself even further than I had really ever gone before. I'm actually not a huge fan of running, but I started doing a 5-to-7 mile run once a week beginning at the end of May. I have continued doing that (no matter how terrible it may be) and feel like I have made huge strides in my running abilities. I also continued going to my local soccer field with a friend a couple times a week to get my touches in. Since gyms have opened back up, I have started going back recently and it feels really nice to get a good workout in again.
What are you most looking forward to when returning to campus?
With the hopeful return to a normal spring semester, I'm still not completely sure where I'm headed yet. Originally, I had planned to study abroad in Australia during the spring. However, due to the pandemic, that program has been canceled for the Spring 2021 semester. Currently, I am still exploring my options. However, if I do end up staying, I will be really excited to just get some things back to normal. Quarantine and online classes haven't been easy whatsoever and I actually find myself missing going to the library! I really just hope to get some routine back in terms of seeing my friends and teammates, hopefully having some practices/games, and possibly going to some in-person classes.
