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Briana Caldwell set her sights on attending bet8体育娱乐入口 ever since she was in elementary school.
"That was the 'hot' school back when I was growing up,她说. "And ODU had what I wanted - and it gave me more."
Caldwell has had a varied academic career at ODU, which culminates with her graduation on Saturday. She will leave with bachelor's degrees in speech therapy and philosophy with a minor in Jewish studies. 她还在儿童学习中心工作 & 研究 Center, served as an ambassador for the Philosophy Department and is studying Koine Greek.
Her natural inquisitiveness and thirst for knowledge fueled her academic journey.
Caldwell is a first-generation college student whose mother and father both served in the Navy. A graduate of Western Branch High School, she received an academic scholarship from ODU. She decided to major in speech therapy because of how it helped her cope with her stuttering and a desire to help others with the same problem.
"At the end of the day, I've come to the conclusion that, 'You know what? 我口吃，’”她说. “这将成为我生活的一部分. As long as I can communicate effectively - what I want to say and how I want to say it - then I don't see a problem with it. And there are many people who don't even notice."
科林Gillis, 考德威尔的语言治疗教授之一, said Caldwell spoke with her recently about learning more about current treatments.
"Briana asks insightful questions," Gillis said. "She has a curiosity that is grounded in her knowledge and her experiences."
That curiosity led her to a world religions class taught by James Van Dore, senior lecturer of philosophy and religious studies.
"I've always wanted to take world religions,她说. “我觉得这很迷人. 他说，‘你知道吗? 你很擅长这个. 所以，你为什么不试试双学位呢?'
"He basically saw in me when I was sophomore what I didn't see in myself. And he continues to encourage me, make me take risks and guides me in any way, shape or form."
"Each time I gave her a new and more difficult challenge, 她遇到了," Van Dore said.
艾米Milligan, Batten Endowed Associate Professor of Jewish Studies and 女性's Studies and the director of the Institute of Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding, 对考德威尔也产生了类似的影响. Milligan, who calls Caldwell "a bright star in my classroom," inspired her to pursue Jewish studies. She also encouraged her to give the closing remarks at the "Unpacking Antisemitism: An Action-Based Workshop" in October.
“我非常紧张，”考德威尔说. "But when she reached out to me, again, she saw something in me. She said, 'I know you have this in you, I've heard you speak, I've read some of your work. 你能行的，布里安娜.'"
数百人参加了这次活动, and Briana was the only student on the program with prominent speakers who were well advanced in their careers,米利根说。. 事后, countless individuals reached out to comment on how incredibly moved and inspired they were by Briana's words and call to action. She was the voice from which everyone wanted more!"
展望未来, Caldwell plans to attend graduate school to "bridge the gap" between speech therapy, philosophy and religious studies to explore how "our translations or transliterations affect our understanding religious text."
Her professors are "excited to see what she does next," Gillis said.
“她不仅在学业上出类拔萃, 但她是一个真正的思想家, able to make connections between ideas and things she has seen, 在课外学习或有经验的,Milligan补充道.
Caldwell is grateful for her experience at the University.
"ODU stresses that no matter what your background is, 或者你来自哪里, 或者你的肤色, you bring something to the table that can overall help someone else,她说. "It doesn't matter if you're 25 coming back to finish your bachelor's; it doesn't matter if you're 30 just starting. You have something to offer, and ODU sees that."
