Your initial college plan is only sometimes how your story unfolds. At least that's true for Sierra Arbogast, a graduating senior majoring in kinesiology exercise bioenergetics from Huntsville, Alabama.

As a freshman, Arbogast always knew she wanted to help people because of those who have impacted her life and helped her along the way.

"What I want to do career-wise has always been based on helping other people," states Arbogast. "I originally wanted to be a personal trainer because I wanted to change someone's life as a personal trainer changed mine. Then I wanted to be a chiropractor, a social worker, and even a dietician at one point."

Abogast's college experience is about perseverance, or as she puts it, "just doing it."

You see, Arbogast was diagnosed with an epilepsy disorder when she was young and has struggled with seizures her whole life.

"I have been through a lot," says Arbogast. "Having epilepsy causes me to have seizures, and it's hard to know when they will happen. I had brain surgery in the fall of 2021 in an attempt to eliminate the frequent seizures. I took two online classes the semester I had brain surgery to keep my college career going."

Even after brain surgery, Arbogast was diligent with her studies and kept her eyes on the prize - graduation.

"Sierra's health struggles have never kept her from reaching her goals," says Steven Wilson, UAB School of Education Academic Advisor. "She never gave up. She even called me the day after getting out of the hospital from her brain surgery to schedule an advising appointment to ensure she didn't miss any courses and would remain on track to graduate."

The family-like community at UAB is a big reason Arbogast chose this institution instead of other options closer to home.

"The students, faculty, and staff make you feel like family," says Arbogast.
"One time, I had a seizure and woke up to UAB students helping me and supporting me. The students didn't have to help me, but they did. They took care of me when they didn't have to."

In addition to students, Arbogast says programs like UAB's free student counseling services, on-campus tutoring centers, and supportive faculty and staff are some of the many reasons why she was able to finish her undergraduate degree and figure out what she wants to do upon completing her bachelor's degree.

"UAB professors make it easy to connect across multiple disciplines, especially in medical fields," says Arbogast. "My career intentions from when I started college to now are completely different. My path has definitely changed, and that's because of the hands-on experiences I obtained throughout my time at UAB."

The kinesiology program at UAB requires students to complete an internship, and through that process, Arbogast narrowed down her career path with the help of UAB professors.

"Professors are so open to helping students get involved in research opportunities across campus. After volunteering in a research lab, I learned there's more interaction with people than you would think, and you're still helping, which is all I want to do with my career."

Arbogast's story is like many who come to college with one dream and realize they have other passions after gaining experience through internships or volunteer opportunities.

When asked what advice she has for incoming or current students at UAB?

"Stay determined. It's all about doing it and finding a way to get through the tough times, accessing all the resources available to help you succeed, making connections, and leveraging them when you need to score an internship or volunteer opportunity that excites you. Lastly, be nice to people. You never know what people are going through!"

After graduation, Arbogast plans to work in a research lab while she prepares for another brain surgery she has coming up later this summer. Once she's recovered, she plans on applying to UAB's Masters in Social Work program.