By Jensen McKey, Epic Charter Schools
Becca Jolly has seen the devastating effects mental health has had on her loved ones. She wants to use her studies to help and improve people’s lives.
“I want to help people,” she said. “So many people need help and no one is willing to help them.”
Her goal is to attend the University of Michigan and major in its advanced psychology program, which is ranked 10 in the country.
“I want to be able to help people,…They’re human beings. They deserve to have help, and I want to be able to do that.”
She plans on specializing in psychopathology, which is the study of mental disorders, and unusual or maladaptive behaviors.
The 16-year-old rising junior at Harding Charter Prep in Oklahoma City has more down-to-earth interests, too. Another draw for her to Michigan is the Wolverines’ hockey program. Becca discovered her love for the sport while house sitting a few months ago.
Becca was channel surfing when she stumbled onto a New Jersey Devils game, who has a player who has been popular on Tik Tok. This sent Becca down a rabbit hole of televised and recorded games, and set her on the path toward a school that has won a record nine Frozen Four titles along with over 100 players in the NHL.
She also loves music, is the managing editor of her school newspaper and an avid collector of compact discs. Her love of music goes beyond CDs though, with it inspiring new hobbies that hone her writing skills. She also enjoys attending concerts and started out with New Kids On The Block, going with her mother.
Becca fell in love.
Since then she has attended several concerts, including Taylor Swift’s Eras tour in April, and plans to see one of her favorite bands, 5 Seconds of Summer, in September.
During 2020 and quarantine, Becca discovered a love for One Direction, and with it, a love for Harry Styles, who she hopes to see in concert one day. As well as listening to music, Becca loves writing about it; her review of the 5 Seconds of Summer album 5SOS5, won an award at Oklahoma Scholastic Media’s Spring Media Monday. Becca believes her experience as a writer and journalist will give her a step up when it comes to her planned major.
“It feels really good when you write something and then you win first place,” Becca said,“I was so excited because I really wasn’t expecting to win and then I saw my name up there.”
