Melissa White

“I discovered how powerful it can be to show up as my authentic self; doing so helped me build meaningful connections and a genuine sense of belonging within my group.”

Middlebury College
Major: Computer Science Major 

What drew you to your major?

Majoring in computer science has strengthened my ability to approach unfamiliar problems with confidence. Writing code often involves encountering unexpected challenges, and I’ve learned how to adapt quickly and think critically to find solutions. I enjoy the major because it pushes me to think dynamically—an approach that’s been valuable not just in academics, but in many areas of my life beyond the classroom.

How do you think what you’ve learned in RADical Health will help you in future academic or professional settings?

Through the RADical Health experience, I’ve learned the value of asking thoughtful, curious questions and truly listening to others, which are skills that I know will be invaluable in both academic and professional environments. I also discovered how powerful it can be to show up as my authentic self; doing so helped me build meaningful connections and a genuine sense of belonging within my group.

As I move forward, I feel more confident in my ability to engage with new communities, manage stress in healthier ways, and approach challenges with greater self-awareness and emotional intelligence. These are lessons I’ll carry with me long after college.

Can you share a specific situation where skills from RADical Health helped you manage stress or overcome a challenge?

During this winter track season, I faced a challenging injury that halted both my training and competition. It was my first season-ending injury, and balancing the emotional stress of being sidelined, supporting my teammates, and staying optimistic during rehab was difficult. However, the time I had spent earlier with Radical Health building my mental resilience toolkit helped me approach the situation with a different mindset.

I learned to adapt my principles and priorities to reflect where I was in the moment, rather than holding myself to where I had hoped to be. This shift in perspective made a meaningful difference in how I navigated the setback and moved forward with a renewed sense of focus and positivity. 

What advice would you give to your freshman self?

I would tell my freshman self that it’s okay to not be okay. In a world where people often hide their struggles and insecurities, I’ve come to realize how powerful honesty can be. Being open about the challenges I’ve faced has not only helped me connect more deeply with others but it has also helped me feel less alone.

Sharing those experiences as a Radical Health Guide allowed me to build a true sense of belonging within my group, because struggles are real, relatable, and human. And by being self-aware of those moments, I’ve also been able to identify the skills I needed to strengthen, which has ultimately helped me grow into a more resilient and better-equipped version of myself.