Hi, my name is Sydney Garcia. I am a graduate student at Texas Woman’s University currently pursuing a Master of Science in Child Life with an anticipated graduation date of December 2026. My goal after graduation is to become a Certified Child Life Specialist in the Texas Medical Center where I hope to ease the psychosocial impact of illness and hospitalization for children and families.

 

This goal was originally sparked out of my own experiences as a patient. As a teen, I developed sudden and severe Gi issues. This led to years of medical testing and procedures, hospitalizations, and even a transition to online schooling. Through my own experiences, I learned some of the ways that illness can alter life for children and families beyond physical wellbeing. While I recognize that everyone experiences illness differently, I noticed a growing desire to support others facing similar challenges.

 

However, at the time, I didn't have a clear vision for how I hoped to do so. Thus, when I entered into my undergraduate studies at the University of Houston, I decided to lean on other interests. This led me to receive my Bachelors of Business Administration in Management in May of 2021. Nonetheless, my desire to support children and families persisted and rather than entering into the corporate world I began work supporting the preschool ministry at my church. This position helped confirm my interest in working with children and supporting their development. Around this time, I began searching for how I could transition my support to the healthcare environment which led me to discover and ultimately, pursue child life at Texas Woman's University.

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Since then, my academic studies as well as my experiences supporting children and families in various settings have continued to strengthen my passion for child life. Additionally, I have developed the knowledge, skills, and abilities that will enable me to be effective in my future practice. As I near graduation, I am excited to use what I have learned to help make some of the most difficult moments for children and families just a little bit easier.