Meg Roney, along with eleven other summer graduates, accomplished an enviable feat throughout her time at Michigan State University—earning a perfect GPA.
During its October meeting, the MSU Board of Trustees presented Meg and the other graduating seniors with the Board of Trustees Award, which recognizes and honors their achievement of the highest scholastic average one can receive: a 4.0 GPA. Meg will be recognized during the College of Social Science’s commencement ceremony in December and will receive a special cord to adorn her robe.
Meg earned her degree with majors in Psychology and Human Development & Family Studies, along with minors in Leadership in Integrated Learning and Youth & Society. She graduated with Top Honor in addition to designation from the Honors College.
During this time of celebration and new beginnings, Meg took some time to think back about her time at MSU, what she wished she knew as a first-year student, and what classes, groups, and people impacted her journey the most.
Congratulations on receiving the MSU Board of Trustees Award for Academic Excellence! What does it mean to receive that recognition?
I am honored and proud to receive the MSU Board of Trustees Award. This recognition showcases academic excellence and is given to students with the highest scholastic average. I am grateful to MSU for recognizing the hard work that students put in throughout their academic journey.
What was your favorite part of being an MSU Psychology student?
My favorite parts of being an MSU Psychology student were the people I met and the experiences the psychology department offered. The classes and clubs I was a part of gave me so many meaningful connections and lifelong friends who I would not have met otherwise. I also grew personally and academically through the many experiences connected to MSU psychology such as getting to be a ULA for a section of PSY 101 and studying child psychology in Dublin, Ireland!
Tell us about where you found your community at MSU. What groups, labs, or activities helped you find your place? How so?
During my time at MSU, I was lucky enough to be a part of many groups that helped me find my community. Joining MSU’s chapter of Psi Chi introduced me to many brilliant psychology undergrads in addition to various professors and graduate students in the department. I also participated in PSY Scholars which connected me with my peers and a professor who served as a mentor throughout my last two years at Michigan State. Getting involved in research through the CHILD lab gave me insight on various research processes and introduced me to many graduate students and professors who share common interests in the field of child development.
Tell us about your favorite PSY classes!
PSY 238, Developmental Psychology: Lifespan, was a great introduction to developmental psychology and provided me with very detailed insight into human development throughout the lifespan. This class also touched on development that occurs later in life, which is not heavily discussed in many other courses.
PSY 371/372 was a practicum that gave me experience with children who had gone through trauma and/or loss. My classmates and I facilitated lessons that worked on emotional understanding and behavior regulation at a local Head Start school. We also worked with the guardians of these students to track their progress and gave tips on various strategies that could be implemented at home.
Looking back at your time at MSU, what have you learned?
My time at MSU has not only given me insight academically, but it has also helped me discover what I am passionate about. I took advantage of the many different courses that touch on various fields of psychology and realized that I love learning about developmental psychology, specifically development in early childhood. This helped me refine what field of psychology I am most interested in and want to focus on in my future career. Without the developmental psychology courses I have taken, I may have never discovered and pursued this area of psychology.
What do you wish you could go back and tell yourself as a freshman?
I wish I could tell my freshman self that it's okay to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Forcing myself to fight through the nerves and participate in new opportunities is where I ended up learning the most about myself and what I am capable of. If I hadn’t taken advantage of the experiences and resources I was presented, I would have never grown or learned as much as I did during my undergraduate career.
Would you like to give a shout out to anyone who helped you in your journey?
I would like to thank a few of the many professors and advisors that guided me through my journey at MSU. My academic advisor, Sarah Handspike, helped me push myself academically and provided me with insight on various opportunities that I had no idea MSU offered. I would also like to thank Dr. Vallotton and Dr. Brophy-Herb for allowing me to get involved in their lab and guide me through various projects that expanded my understanding of research. In addition to these faculty, I want to thank Dr. Clements who served as the Psi Chi faculty advisor and the professor of the PSY 101 section that I was fortunate enough to be a ULA for. Dr. Clements demonstrated what it takes to effectively teach a large introductory course as well as the hard work and dedication it takes to lead a meaningful student organization.
What’s next for you after graduation?
Currently, I am continuing my work as a research assistant while taking a couple of gap years. I plan on returning to school to get a graduate degree in developmental psychology in the near future.
Anything else you’d like to add as you think about this time of closure and new beginnings?
I am beyond grateful for my time at MSU and the growth I experienced academically, professionally, and personally. Michigan State has equipped me with the necessary experiences and knowledge that will serve me throughout all of my future endeavors.