Upon graduating high school, California native Laurel Gilkerson bypassed attending college.

“I needed to get out into the world, have experiences, and figure out what really moved me,” she says.

In her 20s, Gilkerson moved to New York City, where she got involved in food education, wellness, and cooking as well as nonprofits. These lived experiences with diverse groups of people underscored the power of storytelling and listening, sparking Gilkerson to consider a career in therapy.

“It began to feel like a calling I needed to follow,” she says.

After earning an associate’s degree through the City Colleges of Chicago, Gilkerson transferred to Loyola to pursue an applied psychology degree at SCPS, drawn to the flexibility of the program’s hybrid learning model. SCPS has delivered a thoughtful and supportive environment enriching her experience.

“Being surrounded by peers who are just as motivated and focused as I am and who are making real sacrifices to be in school creates a very different kind of learning culture than I’ve seen before,”

Gilkerson says. “And having professors who treat us as equals, who respect and are curious about our lived experience, also changes everything.”