Texas Tech University

Human Sciences Student Accepted to Harvard, Yale and Princeton

Ashley Brister

April 27, 2022

Destiny Taylor Human Sciences TTU

Destiny Taylor was recently accepted into the country's top graduate schools to pursue a career in ministerial arts

What is your major?

I majored in Human Sciences, an interdisciplinary program, and selected three concentrations for my major: Human Development and Family Sciences, Addictive Disorders and Recovery Studies, and Nutritional Sciences. I am also earning a minor in Psychology.  

Why did you choose this major at Texas Tech?

 I chose these studies based on personal experiences and ultimately, these areas of study have led me to my professional pathway.  From HDFS, I learned about intimate relationships, family patterns, and development from infancy to adulthood.  Addictive Disorder and Recovery Studies taught me about the causes of addiction, from substance to process addictions, as well as the treatment process and commitment to a nonjudgement lifestyle.  Finally, Nutritional Sciences illuminated the mind-body connection, a connection that became apparent after a spiritual transformation that occurred during a twenty-one-day fast.  This fast has opened a door for me to communicate with God and begin my healing process.

What are your career goals?

Due to my ongoing spiritual transformation and the education I received at Texas Tech, I have decided that I want to help others spiritually and holistically by taking mental and social factors into consideration for their healing. I would like to continue my education to practice holistic healing from a chaplaincy position. I sincerely believe in the benefits of a life spent helping others, fully investing in the cultivation of empathy and compassion through pastoral care and counseling. My ultimate career goal is to be a leader in the world of spiritual and mental wellness.

How did it feel to be accepted to Yale, Princeton, and Harvard?

It was a surreal experience for me, I cried like a big baby when I received my acceptance into Princeton, and then five weeks later my Harvard and Yale letters came.  

Can you tell us a bit more about why you will be attending one of these schools?

I was looking for a school that offers a faith-based program that is inclusive, diverse, and at the forefront of human factors research as the world changes and arguments of ministerial arts arise.  

Do you have a decision just yet on where you will be going?

I confirmed with Harvard on March 18th.

What support system(s) (professors, staff, peers, campus resources, etc.) have helped you along your journey?

I also had the opportunity to learn more about social science research firsthand by working in two different research labs. The first with Dr. Klein and Britanny Neilson, a Ph.D. candidate, we operated a lab experiment to measure workload stress and the benefits of a restorative break in nature. In my second lab, I worked with Dr. Dana Weiser and worked to develop a coding guide used for a project on infidelity partners' relationship trajectories. These experiences illuminated for me the valuable role of research in understanding the human experience. With those opportunities came great guidance and letters of recommendation.