Faelan O’Shaughnessy
Faelan O’Shaughnessy
Class Year
’21
Current home
Crystal Lake, Ill.
Major(s)
Neuroscience
Current Position
Graduate student, occupational therapy
Ms. O’Shaughnessy graduated from Carthage in 2021 with a degree in neuroscience. She is currently a graduate student at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio working to obtain her doctorate in occupational therapy.
“The professors and amount of student involvement really prepared me for graduate school. I was able to become very involved on campus and was given the opportunity to step up to take leadership roles which opened many opportunities for me.”
While at Carthage, Ms. O’Shaughnessy was able to be part of the women’s tennis team while remaining active in her neuroscience major. She feels that Carthage’s small class sizes allowed her to have the one-on-one attention she needed to simultaneously be a successful athlete and student.
Ms. O’Shaughnessy thanks all her professors for their hard work and dedication to her success, but she would specifically like to thank Professor Daniel Miller, Professor Paul Martino, Professor Amareshwar Singh, and Professor Nora Nickels for making her feel comfortable enough to ask for help and for making sure that she knew she had the encouragement and support needed to succeed.
“I think the relationships I was able to build with professors at Carthage show how dedicated they are to making their students successful.”
How did Carthage prepare you?
“The professors and amount of student involvement really prepared me for graduate school. I was able to become very involved on campus and was given the opportunity to step up to take leadership roles which opened many opportunities for me. The professors also were very helpful and supportive throughout my academic career at Carthage.”
Why did you choose Carthage?
“There are many reasons why I chose Carthage. First, I knew as soon as I started as a student that I would be treated as a student, not as just a number as it can be at big schools. I could really tell how much the professors loved what they did and how they were easily accessible to students.
“I also really loved the smaller class sizes which I knew would let me get to know my classmates. Before I started college I knew I wanted to play a sport which Carthage let me be able to do while being a successful student. Being able to play college tennis while getting my neuroscience degree really drew me to Carthage. I also loved the campus and its beautiful view of the lake, as well as the school’s distance relative to home for me.”
What opportunities were made possible because of your Carthage experience?
“Carthage gave me so many opportunities that other schools would not have been able to offer. Academically, Carthage really helped me achieve everything I wanted to. I also was very involved in clubs and sports which helped me build strong leadership roles. I was able to learn how to balance school, tennis, organizations, and my social life.
“The biggest opportunity was the hands-on education I received. Many of my professors were very influential in my academics and so helpful in making me successful. I was never afraid to ask for help, and I felt like I had all the support I needed to do well. I was able to academically thrive and push myself to get accepted and attend my top choice grad school because of what I was able to accomplish while at Carthage.”
What Carthage professors played a part in your success and how?
“I had many professors play roles in my success, but Professor Daniel Miller, Professor Paul Martino, Professor Amareshwar Singh, and Professor Nora Nickels had the biggest influence on my academic successes. I always felt comfortable asking for help and knew that I could get encouragement and support when needed. I think the relationships I was able to build with professors at Carthage show how dedicated they are to making their students successful.”
Tips for current Carthage students?
“The most important thing I learned at Carthage is to take advantage of what is right in front of you. The professors are there to help you and make you successful, so use them and ask them for help — they will do everything they can. I also would say, don’t be afraid to step up and take on new roles. I took on many leadership roles as a student at Carthage that I would never have before. Carthage has so many opportunities and taking advantage of them will only help you in the long run. The four years go by fast so make the best of it and use the resources available while you have them.”