Most students arrive at KU ready to explore their interests. Caroline Rome showed up already building hers through a internship in the mental health field — and her freshman year is off to an exciting start, both academically and socially.

Starting college comes with big questions. What do I want to study? Who will I meet? How will I find my place? For freshman Caroline Rome, some of those answers began taking shape even before she arrived at KU. The summer before move-in, she completed an internship with Johnson County Mental Health Center, gaining firsthand experience in a field she already felt drawn to.

Often, students discover that their academic path shifts once they get here — especially when fields overlap, like psychology and social welfare. After writing this post, Caroline officially switched her major to social welfare with a minor in criminal justice. Taking intro courses in both areas, along with her hands-on internship, helped her see which path aligned most with her interests and goals. KU encourages students to explore these options early so they can feel confident in their choice.

In her internship, shadowing clinicians, case managers, and crisis response teams gave Caroline early confidence in her major and a clearer sense of the possibilities ahead. And when she got to campus in August, that experience helped shape her experience as she navigated classes, conversations, and even the social side of college as she went through sorority recruitment.

Finding the right major is part of the college journey, and hands-on experiences often provide the clarity students need. After her internship, Caroline found herself drawn to social welfare and the impact she could make in that field. Read our social welfare career guide here: What can you do with a social welfare degree?

In this student-submitted post, Caroline reflects on what she learned, how it shaped her first semester, and why she already feels at home at KU.

My Journey Before KU

I always knew I wanted to attend the University of Kansas, from watching basketball games at Allen Fieldhouse with my dad, or driving through campus to look at all the big buildings I wasn’t used to seeing in my hometown. It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to study in college, but I was reassured that the people and resources at KU would help me figure it out along the way. My senior year of high school I decided to declare myself a psychology major, and since then it's been nothing short of amazing.

I have always been passionate about helping others, especially in the mental health field. The summer before my freshman year of college, I had the amazing opportunity to work with mental health professionals at the Johnson County Mental Health Center for their Student Intern Program!

The knowledge and experience I gained from this internship greatly enhanced my experience at the University of Kansas, especially within my classes, and even in my own social atmosphere.

My Student Internship in Mental Health

At Johnson County Mental Health Center, I was able to shadow a variety of occupations in the mental health field. Some of these included co-responders, case managers, clinicians, and the crisis hotline. It was so beneficial for me to experience and see all different kinds of positions in this field of work. I was so shocked by how many roles there were!

In addition to working alongside mental health professionals, I was able to attend meetings, court dates, councils, and even meet some of Kansas’ politicians. This internship introduced me to the skill of networking and communication with my peers. I was extremely nervous when I started because I was the youngest person in the room and I didn’t really know what to expect. However, I was met with such a positive and welcoming environment that truly made me feel confident and seen.

Not only did the professionals I worked with have great insight into mental health professions, but they also helped me figure out my educational journey. I was so pleased to hear that most of the professionals I worked with got their degrees at KU! Both the social welfare and psychology programs were talked of so highly, I even got a multitude of class recommendations which were extremely helpful!

Arriving to KU

The first week of classes I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I was looking forward to seeing what college classes and the learning environment were going to be like. I was met with kind and extremely helpful professors, I could really tell they wanted the best for me! Even though it wasn’t the easiest for me to adjust right away to this “new life,” it felt good to know that there were so many people that I could reach out to for assistance if I needed it.

I started to discover the countless opportunities there were for me here at KU, both with academics and getting involved in extracurricular activities. I found that the Psychology department here at KU always sends out new opportunities to learn outside of class, whether it be attending a seminar, or introducing labs or research projects to join. One thing I really love about the Psychology program at KU is that not only do they care about your education in the present, but they continually show an effort in bettering your future past an undergraduate degree.

My Sorority & Fraternity Life Involvement

Aside from my academic experience, I decided to join recruitment when I got to KU, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! I am a new member of the Chi Omega chapter here at KU, and there is no other place I’d rather be. The amount of young women I have been able to connect with is incredible, and the relationships I have established at Chi Omega have made my college experience nothing short of amazing.

Because of my Sorority & Fraternity Life involvement in Chi Omega, I have so many new opportunities. I love being able to volunteer alongside my sisters at community service events or attending other chapters Philanthropy events. Recently, some of my sisters and I formed a group for the Natural Ties program, and it has been an abundance of fun and so incredible to connect with so many other members of SFL.

Having so many young women around me in Chi Omega that value academics has been extremely beneficial for my experience here at KU. I have been able to connect with girls who also have Psychology majors, both in my class and upperclassman. Just a year ago I never thought that studying could actually be fun, but being able to do school work in the Chi Omega house beside my sisters has been one of my favorite parts of college so far!

My internship this past summer at Johnson County Mental Health Center, then entering college for the first time and being welcomed with new opportunities and amazing people has made my experience beyond phenomenal. Being a freshman in college can definitely be scary, but finding the right people to surround yourself with and taking advantage of all that KU has to offer makes it all worth it. You got this!