Growing up in a military family, Emily Dana moved a lot, so keeping friends and making new ones was extremely difficult for her. She often felt lonely and rejected. Maintaining her mental health was a struggle, but true friends made a huge difference. She wants to return the favor.
After taking a break from school to work through some personal trials, Dana transferred to BYU for a fresh start. She considered changing her major to statistics but ultimately decided to continue her human development studies.
At BYU she got involved in mentored research with Project ADEPT—a national study on the mental and emotional health of teens. “When I got involved in research, I realized that all my interests could fit together,” she says. “I can study human development, apply statistics, and help people. It is a perfect fit for me.”
To read more about Emily Dana and other College of Family, Home, and Social Science students, please visit https://socialsciences.byu.edu/.
| Rank | State | Gifts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UT | 82 |
| 2 | CA | 17 |
| 3 | TX | 8 |
