Hi, I’m Emma.

I help grad students live whole, balanced lives while they chase big goals—infusing faith, cultivating healthy rhythms, and celebrating often along the way.

If you’re trying to finish your degree without burning out, losing yourself, or feeling stuck in survival mode, you’re in the right place.

What you’ll find here.

This is a corner of the internet for:

encouragement when grad school feels heavy
practical tools that make progress feel doable
faith-rooted reflections for the messy middle of becoming

I write for the student who wants success and peace—who wants to keep going, but refuses to become hollow in the process.

And I care deeply about making sure you feel seen in this journey. Your story matters. You matter.

Why I care about this.

I’m a doctoral candidate in the Higher Education Studies & Leadership program at Baylor University, and my work centers on student wellbeing, belonging, and the way our environments shape who we become.

But I’m not just studying this. I’m living it. I know what it’s like to love learning and still feel overwhelmed, to be high-capacity and still deeply human. But this hasn’t always been my story.

I’ve always loved learning. My undergraduate degree was in biopsychology (similar to neuroscience) with a math minor, and I jumped into research after graduation. I was a go-getter—always chasing dreams, goals, and big ideas. But I learned the hard way that passion doesn’t protect you from burnout.

That season changed me. After two years in research, I stepped away from academia entirely. I rebuilt my life from the inside out by pursuing healing, healthy rhythms, and holistic wellbeing. I started paying attention to and talking about the things that make people whole: belonging, purpose, faith, rhythm, and community.

But don’t be fooled into thinking I have it all figured out. Even in my time as a doctoral student, I navigated gut-wrenching losses and severe burnout that threatened my identity, vocational calling, and connection with God. I came face-to-face with my limits and finally had to acknowledge them.

Instead of letting this season take me out, I chose a different approach. I’ve tried to build a life marked by celebration, gratitude, joy, community, and collaboration. I’m here to share what I’ve learned to guide you through movements of integrity and peace, so you don’t fall prey to the narratives of isolation, competition, and scarcity.

It is my mission to help you feel less alone in this grad school journey. In this space, I’ll break down jargon, offer research-backed practical tips for success + wellbeing, and cultivate a community in what can be an isolating season.

You will hear me say over and over again that we were not meant to walk this journey alone. I hope you’ll allow me, and this space, to walk with you in this season of being and becoming.