![Taylor Will](http://blogs.callutheran.edu/stories/files/2015/06/Taylor-Will_210x315.jpg)
Taylor Will
Major: Exercise Science (Health Professions)
My name is Taylor Will and I am from Santa Maria, California. I am an exercise science major with an emphasis in health professions, and I am currently a senior.
What’s your major like?
I would describe the exercise science major as not only rigorous and challenging, but also captivating and thought-provoking. Every day, I am motivated to think critically and creatively, while also engaging in many research opportunities that provide hands-on learning.
As an exercise science major, I feel that the wide-range of knowledge I have obtained during my four years at Cal Lutheran has given me all the tools I need to become successful in my future endeavors.
What are your post-graduation plans?
After graduation, I will be attending graduate school to become an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. My goal is to work in the emergency room, where I hope to provide an educated and experienced nursing presence to those most in need.
What opportunities have you had while at Cal Lutheran?
It was an honor to have been selected to shadow six doctors, all with different specializations, during the Marian Medical Center Physician’s Mentoring Program in Santa Maria, California. This opportunity made me realize my passion to become a Nurse Practitioner through observing the many rewarding experiences that you are subjected to in the field of medicine.
I have also had the opportunity to volunteer at Los Robles Hospital here in Thousand Oaks. As a volunteer, you work side by side with all the nurses in each department, and their nurturing approaches have led me to recognize the strategies that I will use in patient care.
How has being an athlete benefited your student experience?
I believe that involvement in athletics has allowed me to prioritize my time and manage my studying in a more beneficial way. I have also acquired the ability to plan-head because sports team have varying practice and game schedules, so there is no room for procrastination.
Do you have any advice for new students?
My advice to incoming students would be to take advantage of the small, intimate class sizes and one-on-one time with professors. Cal Lutheran professors want you not only to work hard, but also to succeed and grow as individuals.
I would also suggest that incoming students get involved in clubs and organizations on campus because they help you develop confidence in yourself and your abilities, develop leadership skills, and create connections among a variety of people.