Kaitlyn Lugo is a George C. Brooks Scholar from Collierville, Tennessee majoring in Health Science, with an emphasis in Rehabilitation Sciences. She is planning on going to physical therapy school after graduation.

“Put yourself out there,” Kaitlyn says. “I came from out of state not knowing really anyone, so reaching out to people and introducing myself was so crucial, especially when everything was still online. Just getting out of my comfort zone has helped me find opportunities to not only learn new things but meet new people too!”

In addition to being a student ambassador, Kaitlyn is also a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.

What made you choose Mizzou?

Everyone was so welcoming from the second my family stepped out of our car at Meet Mizzou day, and that energy carried through the entire day! Talking to students and faculty here at Mizzou seemed like we were the first people they talked to all day…even at the end of the day.

What should make students choose Mizzou?

Hearing how big Mizzou seems intimidating, but everyone genuinely wants to see each of us individually succeed. I have never once felt like “just a number”, and I think that’s what makes Mizzou so special!

How did you choose your major?

I started out as a Health Science –Pre-Professional major, but I was in a meeting one day where a Physical Therapist came and talked to us. Everything she had to say about PT School and actually doing Physical Therapy sounded like exactly what I was looking for in a career, especially being able to build lasting relationships with patients!

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming freshmen, what would it be?

Get out of your comfort zone! Doing something that seems scary or intimidating almost always teaches you something you wouldn’t have learned otherwise!

If you could have dinner with one famous Mizzou graduate, who would it be and why?

I would probably choose John Anderson because I’ve seen him on TV a thousand times over the years watching football with my family, so I think it’d be pretty cool to meet him!