Coming From West Palm Beach, Florida, and majoring in psychology, Joanne Llanos ’23 was inspired after a high school psychology class to pursue a degree in the fascinating work of psychology.

“I would like to go to graduate school to continue pursuing psychology, but to either study child or sports psychology, but also potentially specialize in PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder),” said Llanos.

“Specifically, because of soccer, but mainly because of the culture that Coach Omar Gallo was seeking to build,” notes Llanos.

“I am part of the women’s soccer team as a midfielder,” said Llanos. “I am also the president of the Latinos Uñidos club. I got involved in the Latinos Uñidos club because I wanted to make a bigger impact with Latinos within the Holy Cross community.”

“The summer between my freshman and sophomore year of high school, I went to visit and travel with my family in Colombia for over a month. This trip opened my eyes to the beauty of the country and the hospitality that my family in Colombia showed and realized how you should respect and treat other people,” recalls Llanos. “Being in Colombia for so long made me proud and as well as blessed to be a part of such a beautiful culture.”

“My future plans are to either work in the psychiatric department at a V.A. hospital to help veterans with their PTSD, or to work as a child or sports psychologist,” said Llanos.