They say college is the time for new experiences. Maddy Reyes takes that adage seriously.
The senior human development major, who will graduate in May, has built and joined communities across the Washington State University campus through a tireless dedication to keeping herself busy.
“I don’t have a lot of time off,” said Reyes, a Blaine, Washington native. “I love that — I like having something going on all the time, and WSU has given me so many opportunities to be involved. When it gets hard or I get overwhelmed, I remember the fun stuff that comes with it.”
Reyes’ on-campus activities include cheerleading since her first year, three years as a peer health educator, serving as a student ambassador for the Department of Human Development (HD), and assisting on funded research projects in HD’s IMPACT Lab. She is also a teaching assistant for two different classes and working toward an honors degree.
As a peer health educator, Reyes conducts workshops for student groups on topics ranging from alcohol and substance abuse to life skills like conflict resolution, time management, and self-care. She also distributes sexual health and campus resources at university tabling events.
“I love connecting with students from around campus,” she said. “I’ve met so many people that I wouldn’t have otherwise. The peer health program has taught me how to meet people where they are and how to reach them and meet their needs.”
Reyes’ drive to help others has led to multiple opportunities within HD.
“Maddy is exceptional,” said Jennifer Duckworth, an HD assistant professor and mentor to Reyes in the IMPACT Lab. “She’s dedicated and organized, and she takes initiative. I usually hire graduate students to work on funded research projects, but I asked Maddy to help because she consistently goes above and beyond.”
Reyes began helping with research projects because she wanted to try something new and gain research experience. Despite having a limited science background before coming to WSU, she discovered a passion for prevention science.
“I wasn’t that interested in science before coming to college,” she said. “Getting to be part of the IMPACT Lab and seeing the work that goes into research really opened my eyes and made me realize the importance of prevention science initiatives.”
Reyes’ work in the IMPACT Lab provided her with a rare one-on-one relationship with a professor. That relationship has benefitted her fellow students as well, since Duckworth asked Reyes to present a peer health education program to her class this semester.
“It’s a workshop on self-care for college students, which is such an important topic,” Duckworth said. “I’ve really enjoyed working with Maddy and watching her grow and do such meaningful work at WSU.”
Reyes, whose HD degree is focused on prevention science, hopes to eventually earn a master’s degree in public health. She works as a peer health educator because of a longtime interest in helping people stay healthy. That interest largely stems from her passion for helping others, but also her experience as someone with a congenital heart condition.
After undergoing open heart surgery as an infant, Reyes later shared her story as an American Heart Association ambassador. She continues to visit her cardiologist annually.
“I care about other people’s health because I’ve had so many of my own struggles,” she said. “I want to make sure that my peers on campus know how to care for themselves I want to be an approachable resource for them.”
That heart condition didn’t diminish her interest in cheer, which she’s participated in since elementary school. She attended recruitment clinics in high school, putting her on the radar of WSU cheer coaches.
“I love the friends I’ve made on cheer and have loved being part of the team,” Reyes said. “But I wanted to get to know others around WSU too. I’ve met so many great people as a peer health educator, an HD ambassador, and a researcher. Being a Coug has been an amazing experience.”
