Lindy Keyes

Lindy Keyes is a rehabilitation counseling graduate student from Plainfield, IL

Hometown: Plainfield, IL

High School: University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC College Prep)

Year: Expected graduation: spring 2025

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
When I was a child, I wanted to take a variety of different career paths. When I was headed toward undergraduate study at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), I began to develop more of an interest in careers related to therapy, such as psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy and counseling. I am currently in graduate school in the rehabilitation counseling master's program here at NIU. When I look back on all of my career interests growing up, I realize that I always wanted a meaningful job that would foster a safe environment for others and help individuals in the community. This is what eventually encouraged me to pursue a degree in rehabilitation counseling.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am currently pursuing my Master of Science degree in rehabilitation counseling. At a certain point during my undergraduate experience at UIC, my interest in physical therapy was sparked. I then volunteered at a physical therapy clinic for about two years to gain some experience and knowledge of the field. Through this journey of interacting with individuals who had physical disabilities, I realized that their reported physical pain also affected them mentally. I noticed that I spent a good amount of time hearing the clients’ stories and encouraging them. I really enjoyed this work. At times it was challenging, but seeing the clients' progress was very rewarding. I then began to ponder upon how I could find a career that would help individuals with disabilities through counseling. I started researching different careers, and I came across rehabilitation counseling. I eventually completed an internship with Donka Inc., which allowed me to gain job placement experience for individuals with mainly physical disabilities. I gained some experience at places such as Trinity Services and Cornerstone Services, where I worked with individuals who have intellectual disabilities to guide them toward living a better-quality life.

Have you conducted your own research through Research Rookies, Honors capstones or theses or any other faculty-guided research opportunity?
Yes

Tell us about the research you are doing and why it interests you.
During the two years of graduate school, I worked on research with Dr. Amanda McCarthy and Dr. Bryan Dallas, where I got an opportunity to conduct research on university handbooks as well as on major depressive disorder. I am currently working on research on maternal and child health for women of color with Dr. Shondra Clay. Through all of my research experience, I began to identify the ongoing issues related to these topics. It has also allowed me to identify some needs and target some interventions.

How has conducting research strengthened your education and experience at NIU?
This research opportunity definitely gave me a chance to explore the topics mentioned in greater detail. For example, I was able to expand my knowledge of psychological disorders and other topics. I also received the chance to conduct meta-analyses, where I looked over and compared a variety of studies and point of views amongst related topics. I enjoyed exploring the knowledge of other researchers. The projects that I worked on also allowed for creativity and innovation.

How will your research experience help you in the future?
The research helps me understand more of my interests when it comes to my future career goals. For example, I may work with people who have psychological disorders or maternal health issues. The research that I conducted on major depressive disorder and maternal health helps me to be more competent in these areas, prompting me to possibly improve services and treatments in the near future. I also received the opportunity to have some research that I worked on published in the Vocational Evaluation and Career Assessments Professionals (VECAP) journal. This may pave the way for career advancement, professional recognition and opportunities for collaboration.

Who at NIU has been important to your success doing research and why?
Dr. Shondra Clay, Dr. Bryan Dallas and Dr. Amanda McCarthy have all been very helpful on my research journey. They were all very encouraging and provided feedback that helped me to improve so much.

What advice would you give to an incoming student as it relates to research at NIU?
I would encourage the person to try and keep an open mind and learn as much as they can from those who are mentoring them. When looking over information, I would encourage them to ask questions. Take everything as a learning experience and have fun with your research! You can keep yourself motivated through your work by your desire to understand.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
The school environment is very welcoming and friendly. From my experience, I have seen that students here at NIU are treated with equal respect. There are also a variety of opportunities for student involvement. I personally received an opportunity to enhance my leadership skills through my involvement as president of the Rehabilitation Counseling Student Association (RCSA) on campus and through networking.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
I made an effort to meet new people on campus by attending the involvement fairs. I eventually joined a faith-based club where I learned a lot and made some amazing connections. I also received a chance to mingle with my team members from RCSA. We would come together for our regular monthly meetings to talk about club-related tasks, but we also would also make time to talk about how we generally felt about our everyday life schedules. This motivated us to encourage each other to take part in consistent self-care activities. This was extremely helpful for my mental health. Additionally, when midterm and final exams were creeping up, it was nice to review some of the course topics with my classmates. It is great for me to study on my own, but it is also helpful for me to review the class content in a group to boost motivation and improve comprehension in certain areas.

Are you involved in any student organizations, mentoring programs or extra-curricular activities? If so, which ones? How have they added to your experience as a Huskie?
I am currently president of the Rehabilitation Counseling Student Association (RCSA) on campus. Considering that I am in the rehabilitation counseling program, this opportunity gives me more of a chance to advocate for individuals with disabilities. I bring in guest speakers from different rehabilitation-related facilities to discuss how they help individuals with disabilities in the community set and achieve their personal, career and independent-living goals. This leads to helping this specific population secure or return to meaningful work. In addition to this, RCSA has had bake sales to raise money for service animals. This club has not only allowed me to spread awareness, but it has also allowed me to grow my leadership skills. I am also involved in a faith-based club on campus that has placed people in my life who support me through my spiritual journey and school journey. I have learned so much, and I am grateful that this opportunity has allowed me to connect with an uplifting environment.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
NIU Career Services has helped me with professional skills such as perfecting my resume. The office staff in the School of Interdisciplinary Health Professions have helped me to stay on top of applications and other tasks for opportunities such as graduate assistantships and internship preparation. In addition to this, the school library staff have been helpful when I had any questions or needed any assistance with rentals or technology.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
Honestly, all of my professors have been very supportive on my journey through graduate school. Dr. Nahal Salimi taught me a good amount of information on psychological disorders and assessment. She made sure to go over topics multiple times until the whole class understood the topic. She was also encouraging and promoted self-care. Dr. Bryan Dallas taught me a lot about career counseling and job placement. This information is crucial for my future as a rehabilitation counselor. He was also helpful as my academic advisor, making sure all of my priorities with my classes and graduate assistantship were managed. Dr. Daniel Boutin educated me on aspects of counseling clients who have disabilities. He encouraged me by letting me know that I would be a great counselor or therapist. He motivated me to keep moving forward when times were tough. Dr. Amanda McCarthy really emphasized self-care for all students. She reminded me to take tasks step by step to avoid burnout. This really brought me to the point of giving myself grace when I do not complete everything on my schedule at the time I originally wanted to. I know to make some space in my schedule for activities that help me to unwind. All of my professors facilitated critical-thinking skills and were a great academic and mental health support.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
Consistently attending class has allowed me to engage and participate more in discussions. It has definitely allowed me to have the chance to ask clarifying questions when needed and to perform better academically. I also believe that it helped me build a professional bond with my classmates and professors.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
I am a commuter, so I do not really get the chance to hang out on campus all of the time. However, there was a period of time when I would stay on campus between some of my classes. During this time, I really enjoyed going to Founders Memorial Library. This is where I would catch up on a lot of homework. I would also meet with friends sometimes to grab a bite and study together. The school library was a great space for me because it also helped me relieve a lot of anxiety. It gave me the space I needed to relax and also be productive.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
I would encourage the person to apply to college once they are more certain of what career they would like to pursue. I would let them know about the importance of researching the school’s academic programs, social life, financial aid options, etc. I would also encourage a tour or visit to the campus to better understand the school’s atmosphere. Furthermore, I would discuss with them the fact that they should not be too hard on themselves when making this decision. For example, we all have interests at one point in our lives, and sometimes those interests change. This is okay. School is a place to learn and explore, and it will all work out in the end.

Why is a college education important to you?
My college education helps me to gain more competence in my field of study. It also helps me to become more well-rounded. It allows employers to see my potential when it comes to my knowledge in the field, project experience, problem-solving ability, capacity to learn, work ethic and more. My college experience increases my career stability and satisfaction. Additionally, it gives me more opportunities to make a positive impact in the community.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
I like to start off by creating a schedule for myself. I begin by organizing tasks by importance. I focus on the more urgent tasks first and then move from there. One way that allows me to consistently follow my schedule is eliminating distractions. For example, I will often take social media breaks. This allows me to focus on completing my responsibilities in a timely manner. Moreover, I try to remind myself to not feel pressured to get everything on my to-do list done right away all of the time. Life happens, and sometimes adjustments need to be made. So, I try to be mindful of this and give myself grace when things do not go as planned. I also believe that it is important to leave some time for self-care in my day-to-day schedule.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I stay informed about events and services on campus by checking my school email daily. At times, I also check Huskie Hub to look for any upcoming events of interest. Sometimes, I get notified by my classmates or professors when events are available, as well.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
To relax or recharge, I usually take some time to myself. During this time, I will engage in self-care activities as well as in some of my hobbies. For example, I will take a walk, do breathing exercises, complete my skin-care routine, call a friend, bake a treat, have tea and make effort to focus on positivity.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
I currently work part time as a research assistant with the chair of the rehabilitation counseling program here at NIU. I am working through some research on maternal and infant health issues. It has given me a deeper understanding of the topic and encouraged me to advocate for these issues. I am also going through my internship semester where I am gaining more experience working with people who have intellectual disabilities. As for my hobbies, I enjoy taking walks, practicing piano, reading, hanging out with friends, baking, shopping and many other activities.