Trista Mayo
Degree: BS, human development and community engagement, with a concentration in human services
College: College of Education and Human Development
Hometown: Reading, Pennsylvania

Why I chose Temple: I originally came to Temple in 2018 and double majored in music education and vocal performance. I did two years of that, but it wasn t my calling. Then COVID-19 happened. I didn t want to be a music major online, so I took a break from school and explored other interests.

I volunteered in Kensington, which is a neighborhood in Philadelphia that deserves more support. I decided to move there to serve and become part of the community and see what I could learn. The whole world was shut down, which also meant a lot of organizations serving people were shut down. I figured why not use this time when the world was standing still to help others. I signed a three-month contract to live and work at a soup kitchen, and I ended up staying two years because I loved it. Those two years inspired me to come back to school and focus on psychology. I talked to so many different professors and guidance counselors who led me to change majors to human development and community engagement. We figured out that I d take an overload of classes while working full time and transfer some of my music credits so that I could complete the four-year program in two years.

My current cohort is small and includes several adult learners. It s been so cool to have such real-world experience in the classroom. It speaks to the level of diversity at Temple, and it s great that the university has such a wide range of people.

Internships and extracurriculars: I've had two internships during my last semester. As part of my program, I ve interned with the Community Grocer, doing public relations and helping write grants for them and other organizations they ve worked with. I ve also interned with Philadelphia Youth Sports Collective, coaching strength and conditioning for children s basketball teams in North Philadelphia."

I found out I could extend my DI eligibility even as a 25-year-old, so I joined the women s rowing team, and I ve had the time of my life. We won gold at the Kerr Cup and bronze at the Knecht Cup Regatta. I m so grateful for the opportunity and to my team and Coach Noah Legendre. I ve learned a lot about myself as an athlete and a coach."

Outside of Temple, I m a CrossFit coach, and I privately coach power lifting and strength and conditioning.

Transformative Temple moment: Deciding to go to graduate school was a big step for me. I had a class in which we presented a graduate-school level project at the annual School Psychology, Counseling Psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis Conference. Associate Professor of Practice Jessica Reinhardt, who taught the course, told me, I think grad school is for you. I never thought about it, but for someone to tell me that and for me to believe it and feel that encouragement lit a fire in me. I ve been so inspired by a lot of my professors and others in the College of Education and Human Development, including Shana Levi-Nielsen, Kelly McGinn, Jill Swavely and Shani Beaufort, who ve gone above and beyond and made my time here special.

What s next: I m starting graduate school in the fall at Temple in the counseling psychology master s program. I m hoping to work with nonprofits in Philadelphia to provide therapy for those who need it the most but don t have access, particularly those struggling with addiction. My time in Kensington made a special place in my heart for that community. They re a wonderful, overlooked group of people. I want my future career to be founded on the principles of community and advocacy.