WKU News

In 2020, when Natalie Spiva was a high school senior in Memphis, TN, the idea of where to attend college was overwhelming. She wasn't sure where she would end up, but she knew two things for sure: she wanted a change by going out of state and she wanted to remain somewhere warm. This determination to step out of her comfort zone was uncharacteristic but deeply motivating.

Her mother, recognizing her daughter's uncertainty, reached out to an acquaintance who used to work in the Mahurin Honors College, who suggested exploring Western Kentucky University and its academic offerings. Despite the ongoing pandemic, which made campus tours impossible, she decided to take a leap of faith. The first time she saw WKU was on move-in day in August 2021.

Natalie chose to live in Minton Hall, embracing the "classic freshman experience" with all its challenges and excitement. Her initial days on campus were filled with wonder and a bit of apprehension. "Campus felt large… I tried to walk my schedule, and it felt overwhelming at first, but it was cool to walk around, see the buildings, all the squirrels, all the trees… this was college."

Like many first year students, she explored various clubs and organizations, serving as Vice President in several before finding her true academic calling. "I hopped around to so many things, but I’ve continuously dug into the psych science part of my major and have great connections with professors there." Her involvement in Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology, solidified her interest, while her professors encouraged deeper engagement.

Her love for Spanish also flourished during her time at WKU having studied the language from a young age. Initially a member of the Spanish club, she was encouraged by a professor to become a peer Spanish tutor. "Spanish tutoring has been transformative. I took on a virtual tutoring job over the summer with young kids, and I loved it. I also really love being the university tutor during the school year. Encouraging someone to reach out for help and seeing them get better is really cool and rewarding."

Her involvement didn't stop there. As a member of the Honors Social Planning Board (HSPB), she found joy in helping her fellow honors students enjoy a sense of community on campus. "I’m not the most extroverted person, but attending HSPB events helped me when I was a freshman. I like being able to put on events and bring the honors kids out of their shell."

Her academic journey took a significant turn in the spring of 2023 when she enrolled in an honors special topics class titled "Language Across the Lifespan” taught by Dr. Trini Stickle, associate professor of English. Although Natalie had been curious about linguistics and language acquisition, this course helped her connect her psychological science major interest with her Spanish major in a new direction.

Inspired by Dr. Stickle’s work, and newly cognizant herself of her research interests, she chose to pursue a capstone experience/thesis as part of her honors curriculum. Natalie’s research focused on how people learning a second language perceive their abilities and how time and learning methods shape their perception of competency and emotional relationship with their second language. She became passionate about promoting multilingualism and making language learning a positive experience, especially in a society where it's often seen as a chore.

Under the guidance of Dr. Trini Stickle and Dr. Matthew Shake, she completed her Capstone Experience/Thesis (CE/T) proposal in the summer of 2024 and is now moving toward IRB submission, with a defense planned for the spring 2025 semester.

"The whole experience is really crafted to you, and you get to choose. Having one-on-one time with my advisor, Dr. Stickle, has been invaluable. She’s super knowledgeable and kind, and she checks on me. I have this amazing support system in my faculty who want to see me succeed."

Natalie is also returning to the Lifespan Social Cognition Lab as a student researcher for a third semester, stating that, “the psych science program is super encouraging to students to get involved in labs. I’ve been in Dr. Mienaltowski’s lab – the Lifespan Social Cognition Lab – the longest, and he’s been awesome.”

Looking ahead, she plans to pursue a graduate program with a direct admission into a Ph.D. program, although finding a program that aligns with her cognitive concentration has proven challenging. "Language programs are hard to find; there are lots of clinical programs, but my concentration is cognitive, so finding programs that fit my interest requires careful consideration."

As she prepares to graduate in May 2025, she hopes to inspire others to explore their academic passions and take advantage of the unique opportunities that WKU offers. "It’s such a unique opportunity, and when I introduce myself with all my majors, the self-designed studies is where I get the most questions. I really want to encourage others to explore this opportunity as a way to explore their academic passions and grow in their development."