The Path to Success is Rarely a Straight Line
The path to success is rarely a straight line.
Just ask Arizona State University graduate student Emily Hinsberger.
Emily’s journey to earn her bachelor of science degree in psychology from ASU’s Barrett Honors College in spring 2022, and beginning her master of counseling program in the fall, took a few twists and turns along the way as unexpected obstacles emerged.
In high school, the Phoenix native was an exceptional athlete. She ran sprints and threw shot-put in varsity track and field, practiced Jujitsu, Muay Thai and Judo martial arts at a local Tempe gym, and was a competitive saber fencer at the national level. Her plans to become a college athlete were right in front of her.
“I was going to go to college on an athletic scholarship. Everything seemed to be falling into place for me. This is where my life took a different course,” Emily said.
“In my junior year of high school I was hit in the head with a discus 130 feet out and suffered a traumatic brain injury. I had concussion symptoms for eight months and lost all of my athletic sponsorships to college.”
That’s when Emily realized she had to create a new future and “build it back from scratch.”
More than a year later, after recovering from the injury and moving on to college, Emily pivoted away from sports and began exploring new interests. Starting at ASU in the fall of 2018, she soon discovered a love for psychology, sports nutrition and research. That led her to major in psychology with a minor in nutrition and healthy living.
The transition from high school to college can be challenging and stressful for new students. Emily said her first year of college was the hardest as she suffered from “full-blown imposter syndrome,” had conflicts with her high school boyfriend, and experienced a few other issues.
However, she was able to successfully navigate the first year by becoming more involved on campus and getting support from peers.
“I found my support in finding good people that made me feel heard and safe. I met these people by sitting next to them and talking, going to exercise classes and working with other clubs on campus. These ended up being people that brought me into advocacy and pushed me to achieve at the university. Through all my struggles, there was someone to support me through it. These came from developing genuine relationships with my peers.”
During her undergraduate years Emily learned to push herself to explore new opportunities, both in academics and extracurricular involvement, which opened new doors.
“In my freshman year I joined a postdoctoral lab called the Radical Simplicity Lab, where I cultivated my skills as a researcher and later defended my (Barrett Honors College) thesis on plant-based diet and social support,” Emily said. “Once I defended my thesis successfully, I presented my research at the Society of Behavioral Medicine in April 2021. This was a great accomplishment for me as I learned to push my boundaries in academics. I learned that I was capable of so much more than I thought.”
Outside the classroom, the psychology major became involved in the growing mental health movements at ASU. In January 2020, Emily helped establish a new organization called Devils 4 Devils, a peer-led initiative that teaches students how to support others, during good times and bad, while educating the public about health and wellness resources on campus.
Around this time the COVID-19 crisis emerged. Emily, who later advanced to president of the club, said Devils 4 Devils became an important resource on campus during the pandemic shutdown.
“The students I was involved with became concerned about losing the college experience. We developed an online platform through Zoom called Community Circles, which are spaces where students could host events on topics, conversations and activities to connect to their community. Community Circles still exist today although they take place in person,” she said.
The student group also extended its reach into the community outside ASU, something that fit Emily’s passion for promoting mental health and wellness.
“Through Devils 4 Devils, I worked with local Phoenix high schools, teaching their students how they can be a focus of change in their communities, while also teaching them how to be good friends.”
In addition, the student-led organization has incorporated a multi-level training and mentorship program in their outreach to local high schools called Peer-to-Peer Impact. The mentoring program prepares students to be effective helpers and leaders in their high school and help create an emotionally healthy campus.
“As college students, we can leverage being young and connect with the next generation of leaders,” Emily said. “High school students have the same struggles as college students, however they often feel they don’t have the voice or the resources to achieve their goals. That’s where Peer-to-Peer Impact comes in and says, ‘you have the power to change your community just the way you are.’ ”
Currently, Emily is working on her Master of Counseling degree, with a focus on trauma-centered therapy and building skills in mindfulness. She also works part-time as an Outreach and Programming Management Intern for ASU Counseling Services.
Despite a busy schedule, the 23-year-old student still finds time to continue her leadership role as a mental health advocate on campus and in the greater community.
One of her extracurricular projects this spring is organizing the Out of the Darkness Campus Walk at ASU on Saturday, March 18. Emily said the event, a fundraising walk sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, brings suicide awareness and prevention resources to campus, and is open to the greater community. More information on this year’s walk can be found on the AFSP website.
Emily also played a major role in bringing the Out of Darkness Campus Walk to ASU in 2022, which drew more than 200 participants. The event has many positive impacts, she said.
“I always find these events as an amazing way to teach students what resources are out there, as well as ways that they can be involved in their community. Suicide is a very isolating and stigmatized topic, but when you have hundreds of people showing up because they’ve been affected by it, you start to realize you’re not alone. In planning this event, my goal is if I can make one person feel seen and supported, it is worth all the hours that I have put into planning this event.”
With her employment at ASU Counseling Services, Emily is already on her way to her career goal of entering the counseling field. She works both on campus as an advisor to mental health and wellness groups, and outside of ASU in the high school communities. Her role encompasses a variety of projects to bring mental health awareness to adolescents and young adults.
Working in health-related fields runs in the family. Emily’s father works as a personal trainer while her mother is a group exercise instructor and physical therapist at a nonprofit hospital.
Born and raised in Phoenix near the Arcadia area, she grew up in a multigenerational household that included her paternal grandmother. Even though she was ill with lupus and cancer, her grandmother helped raise Emily and her younger brother when both parents often worked long hours.
“We took care of her as much as she took care of us. My grandmother cultivated the kindness and gentleness in my nature and taught me to find joy in daily interactions.”
Now that Emily has navigated her education journey all the way to graduate school, she’s happy to offer advice for students just starting college. Most importantly, she recommends students learn about the available university resources, such as the dean of students office for any kind of concerns, campus counseling services, disability and inclusive learning services for physical or mental health-related accommodations, and student engagement opportunities.
Emily said getting involved with a club or organization is a great resource to help students combat loneliness, a common struggle for some first-year students.
“Finding good people was what helped me succeed. When you get to college, it might be hard to find your niche. Luckily there is a website for you to try new things, meet new people, and define yourself as an individual. There are sports teams, cultural groups, experience organizations, service clubs, people to learn new languages, Greek life, and so much more.”
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the spring 2023 edition of MASK (Mother’s Awareness on School-Age Kids). Learn more about MASK on the ASU Family website.