Michaela Pereira

How did you choose your degree program?

Originally I was an Economics major when I came to GMU. Over the course of my first two years, I became uncomfortable with the political biases of the Econ dept and felt unable to maintain my own political beliefs within their rigid libertarian framework. I decided to switch to Sociology after realizing that what drew me to study Econ in the first place had more to do with the social aspect of economic behavior/history, and ultimately felt that SOCI was a much better fit for me.

How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you?

In the beginning of my college experience, I struggled with finding my own voice and finding a place in the academic world where I could contribute with both passion and confidence. The past two years (junior and senior) in CHSS have given me many opportunities to accomplish this goal, and I am graduating a much more assertive and focused individual than I was when I first arrived at Mason.

What accomplishment(s) during your time at Mason are you most proud of?

I am most proud of simply getting through senior year amidst a series of profound challenges, both personal and worldwide (COVID-19!). There were many occasions where I was close to giving up entirely and I am proud of myself for not being afraid to ask for help when I needed/need it most. I think this is something that a lot of college students struggle with, regardless of their level of academic success.

Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your Mason career? Please give an example of this impact if possible.

Dr. Woolsey helped play a huge role in getting me involved with the Honors College in particular, and I'm indebted to his encouragement in addition to the opportunities he offered me to be a part of. Additionally, I'm grateful for Dr. Silver for being a great teacher and resource for support in Fall 2020. I aspire to Dr. Silver's level of commitment to being patient and understanding with his students — it pays off!

What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals?

I recently was hired for a full-time position as an office manager for a neurologist's office in NoVa. I plan on taking the GRE this summer and applying to grad schools in the fall. My main goal is to get into an M.Ed program and study school psychology in order to eventually become licensed.