As an undergraduate, Melissa Lowry successfully balanced the rigors of her nursing studies, UConn’s Honors program, and participating in Division I athletics. She won’t be slowing down anytime soon, either – she’ll be working as a registered nurse on the surgical and neurosciences intensive care unit at the University of Iowa after graduation, as she prepares for graduate school to become a doctor of nurse anesthesia practice.

Why did you choose UConn?

I chose UConn because it felt like a home away from home from the first time I stepped on campus. UConn is its own little community, but the school offers so many amazing opportunities for everyone to get involved in something that they are truly passionate about – even if that’s attending a game to cheer on the Huskies!

What’s your major or field of study, and what drew you to it?

I am a nursing major, because nursing provides me with a sense of purpose. I’ve always wanted to have a career that I enjoy waking up and doing every single day, and nursing does that for me. I have always seen myself in the medical field, but I love that nursing is specifically focused on direct patient care and that there are so many fields to go into that – there’s really no saying where you’ll end up in 20 years.

Did you have a favorite professor or class?

There were so many amazing professors that I could go on for days about them all! Like anyone, I love hands-on learning, so my favorite classes were always our simulation labs. They could be intimidating in the moment since you knew your classmates were watching your actions on video, but it was such as great learning experience getting to practice our skills on mannequins – and if you were lucky enough to be in a good group, you always got a laugh when getting to act out the patient scenarios with your peers!

What activities were you involved in as a student?

Aside from nursing, I was also a member of the varsity women’s swim team at UConn the past four years. I’ve been a swimmer for 18 years and wasn’t ready to sacrifice either nursing or swim when I got to college. Juggling the rigor of the nursing program while also swimming at the D1 level was certainly a challenge, but I received so much support from everyone, and I am so glad I decided to stick with it.

As an honors student, I have also been involved in research on campus at the Biobehavioral Laboratory and was able to carry out my own portion of a study and use the data I collected toward writing my thesis. Additionally, I have participated in HuskyTHON, and I am also a member of Student Nurses Association, where I was fortunate enough to travel to Orlando with some of my peers to attend the national convention this year.

What are your plans after graduation/receiving your degree?

After graduation, I will be working at the University of Iowa’s hospital as a registered nurse on their surgical and neurosciences intensive care unit to prepare for graduate school to pursue an advance degree as a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice.

How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?

In just four short years, UConn has allowed me to develop a deeper sense of self. Coming in as a freshman, I thought I knew exactly who I was, but my time here has allowed me to take chances and explore new interests. I found that the more I stepped out of my comfort zone, the more I learned about who I truly was as a friend, athlete, nurse, and person.

Any advice for incoming students?

Do it all! You only get four years to live out your “college experience,” so why not make the most of it? You don’t want to look back on your time and wish that you had done something that you didn’t. UConn offers countless opportunities for students to get involved and try new things that you may never have the chance to do again, so go try something new!

What’s one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn?

Go to a basketball game at Gampel Pavilion (aka the Basketball Capital of the World) and experience what it truly means to be a part of the best student fan base in the country!