McKay School of Education > News > Elyse Sharp
Elyse Sharp
Several years ago Elyse Sharp opted not to enroll at Arizona State University and chose instead to attend BYU. Now she is on the brink of graduating from the Counseling Psychology & Special Education program with a solid education, plenty of experience under her belt, a plethora of BYU memories, and ambitious plans for graduate school.
Sharp is a Tucson, Arizona native, the oldest child of five. Her siblings have been an inspiration to her, especially when it came to deciding on what to study at BYU. One of her sisters has autism, so growing up together gave Sharp a close, personal perspective on how to meet the needs of those with disabilities. It was easy for her to see that the most rewarding experience she could have in her academic career would be found studying special education, with an emphasis on severe disabilities. “It just felt like the right thing to do,” says Sharp about making the decision.
Sharp has had few regrets since making those important decisions and she is quick to express gratitude for the strong educational foundation her studies at BYU have given her. Although she intends to go on to graduate school to earn a master’s degree in occupational therapy, Sharp realizes at the same time “that even if I don’t end up in that specific field, I have the skills necessary to teach special education if I were ever to feel that is where I need to go.”
The McKay School provides many opportunities for students to apply their classroom education to the real world. Right now, Sharp is working with Darlene Anderson of the CPSE faculty on a research project based on work undertaken for a graduate student’s master’s thesis. The project focuses on improving the school experience of young students with autism. Starting in October, they will conduct interviews with parents, teachers, and students and will transcribe, analyze, and summarize the data for use in future presentations and possibly even publications.
In the meantime, Sharp enjoys many benefits of the BYU scene. One of her favorite memories of campus life is attending devotionals at the Marriott Center. “It is always so cool to see so many people who all care about the same thing.” She adds, “And at football games too!”
Looking back on her experiences at BYU with the perspective of a senior, Sharp remembers valuable lessons that any incoming student would do well to consider. “It’s important to know what is expected of you in school,” she says. At that point effective learning can start. Now as Sharp prepares to say goodbye to Provo, she plans to build on the well-rounded education she has received here.
2 October 2009