From Greenville, N.C., Samantha Goodman has certainly left her mark on the Wake Forest community during her four years, double majoring in psychology and studio art and being heavily involved in the campus community.
While touring colleges, Goodman was making her decision between Davidson and Wake Forest, and the beautiful campus and “better reputation” were winning factors in picking Wake Forest.
“I remember when I was touring and walking by Scales [Fine Arts Center] and thinking this campus is huge and that there was no way I was going to handle being at college well,” Goodman said. “Later, freshman year I realized that it isn’t as big as it seemed on the tour — it’s a small campus — and more importantly that I have found my way around it”.
Coming into college, Goodman intended to be a business major but an Introduction to Psychology course her freshman fall changed the trajectory of her college career. Sticking with her decision to major in psychology was a decision that scared Goodman.
“I was scared making that decision because I had to figure out everything on my own,” Goodman said. “I would try and talk to my parents about potential career paths or activities that I was trying to partake in, and they didn’t understand it because it was nothing they ever ventured into.”
Studying psychology has enabled Goodman to learn a lot about herself and the dimensions of how people around the world function.
“This major has taught me how to advocate for myself and how to make connections with people,” Goodman said. “I’ve learned the importance of going to office hours and establishing personal relationships with your professors because it does get you places in life. The most valuable trait that majoring in psychology has taught me is being driven and being personable and building relationships.”
Along with excelling as a psychology major, Goodman is also a Presidential Scholar for studio art at Wake Forest. Supporting her work in psychology, her art experience aided her in working at Brenner’s Children’s Hospital.
At the hospital, Goodman works on art projects alongside pediatric hematology and oncology patients. Recently, she switched over to the pediatric behavioral health unit that deals with more psychiatric illnesses and teaches a weekly art class to 10 patients.
“My studio art major combined with my experience in psychology helped me get those positions, and it has aided me in opening a lot of doors for me,” Goodman said.
Another experience that is a perfect culmination of Goodman’s double major is her work at a local art space school as an aftercare teacher. Coming from a family of teachers, Goodman has a lot of appreciation for the job of a teacher.
“For all the kids like me who are lucky enough to be able to follow their passion, their parents worked a logical and technical job, so that their children could follow their passions.”
Goodman feels like it is easy to fit into the psychology major since it is a collective group of people with diverse interests.
“I think it is hard to be in the major and not fit in because you find people with the same values and life goals as you,” Goodman said. “Everyone majoring in psychology is working towards a very similar end goal and eventually wants to make a greater impact on society.”
Following her graduation from Wake Forest University this spring, Goodman will work as an art camp counselor over the summer for a local gallery in Greenville and then will pursue a master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling from UNC Chapel Hill. She hopes to work as a licensed therapist for a few years and then pursue her PhD. down the line, Goodman aspires to work in healthcare alongside rehabilitation counselors and maybe even be a professor at some point.
The Old Gold & Black wishes Samantha luck on her bright future ahead. We can’t wait to see all you accomplish.
Joe Jenkins • May 14, 2024 at 5:24 pm
Way to go, Sam! Beautiful!!!!!
Nathan Thomas • May 13, 2024 at 10:54 pm
So pro Sam Goodman! Sarah agrees!