Natalie Policky

Why you chose your major
I have always known that I wanted to go into the healthcare field since I grew up in multiple healthcare settings watching my dad love his job being a doctor. I grew up with a strong interest in the field of sciences, and knew I wanted to study it more extensively as I got closer to college. Studying biological sciences was going to give me the foundation I needed to build upon to advance into the medical sciences. The psychology aspect came later, once I discovered within my biology classes, that I found such fascination in the brain and human behavior.

Favorite and/or most impactful course
The class that has made the biggest impact on me would be my organic chemistry 2 class. Going into it, I knew it was going to be a beast. After all, I heard it was one of the hardest classes I was going to have to take as an undergraduate. Although it was hard, I was able to excel in the class with the amazing resources I had from UNL. My professor showed her expertise in the field and passion for the subject very clearly through the way she taught, which made the class much more enjoyable. I met so many other of my now friends in the class that I had late nights with going through problem after problem. I talked to many friendly faces ready to tackle the most challenging of mechanisms in the chemistry resource center. It really showed me that I don't need to be afraid for even the most challenging of classes that I take!

Research or internship experience
I have the privilege of working along some of the best graduate students and principal investigators in the school of psychology here at UNL in my research lab! I work in the Bevins Behavioral Neuropharmacology lab located in the basement of Manter hall. We study behaviors of drug abuse and misuse and how learning history is altered by the perceptibility of a drug stimulus. I get to help collect data for the graduate students, interpret and present data at poster sessions, and collaborate with the team on projects in the lab. I have been lucky enough to become one of the student lab managers of the lab, where I have learned to mix the drugs used in the lab, help in surgical processes, and lead others in the lab to become successful. I truly could not have asked for a better lab to be a part of-I have spent some of the most time with the people in the lab and would not change a thing for everything I have learned!

Other involvement
I work for residence life at UNL as well! If you have ever seen the front desk workers at residence halls, I am one of the people that gets to help lead that program. I work with all other desk assistants for all residence halls across city and east campus and help make sure all processes are running smoothly and help is being given when our bosses are not in the office. I help to ensure a smooth flow of communication between the desk assistants across campus and the rest of our senior desk assistant team and our bosses. I also get to participate in leadership conferences held on campus for housing and collaborate with professional staff of residence life at UNL! I never imagined myself getting so involved with residence life when I came to UNL, but I would do it all over again with the experience and the connections I have made along the way,

Why you chose Nebraska

I decided to come to Nebraska because husker cheer runs in my family! My dad attended UNL many years ago, and I grew up traveling to Nebraska to watch the football games every fall. Then, once my older sister and brother followed in his footsteps to UNL, I fell into my place at UNL as well. It truly felt like home every time I stepped onto campus to visit my older brother and sister while I was in high school. I understand what they mean when they say, "There's no place like Nebraska!"

Student Ambassadors are undergraduate students who talk to prospective students, parents, alumni, and the general public about the college.