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Audrey Mosley is a senior double majoring in Education Sciences and Psychology and Social Behavior. As an undergraduate, she joined Stephanie Reich's research lab, studying how mobile devices affect children's behavior. This spring she will be sharing her research during UCI Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program on May 18 at the UCI Student Center. Below she reflects upon her educational experiences and her choice of UCI. May 2019 I was born and raised in Marin County, California in a wonderful and loving home. My two parents and four older siblings created an extremely supportive and warm environment, resulting in an unforgettable childhood experience. Growing up in Northern California, I knew little about anywhere outside of my Bay Area bubble, but attending my more diverse high school in San Francisco opened my eyes up to being open to and exploring new places. Although my commute to school in San Francisco was only a 30-minute drive out of Marin County, this is where and how I became comfortable with the idea of finding comfort in new and different spaces. When it came to the college application process, I vividly remember being confused and unsure of where I wanted to go. Because of the uncertainty I held and my great fear of the future, I ended up applying to over 15 different schools with the hope that I would choose the best fit for me once the results come out. One of my closest friends decided on applying to, and eventually selecting, UC Irvine. This influenced me to visit the campus in the spring of my senior year of high school, which is when I ended up falling in love with the campus and culture of UCI during my tour. I knew instantly in that moment that this is where I would spend the next four years of my life. Like many other college students, I hit roadblocks during my first year at UCI, such as homesickness, switching majors, and other typical struggles of being a college student. However, I eventually found my path as a double major in Education Sciences and Psychology & Social Behavior. One of the main influences for my choice to major in Education Sciences comes from my mom being a teacher, since she has always been my biggest support system and role model. UC Irvine ended up being the perfect fit for me, and I was able to join various organizations to explore interests that I didn’t even realize I had, such as becoming a SPOP (Student Parent Orientation Program) orientation leader and a member of Soulstice League, a sketch comedy group, where I got to perform in front of hundreds of UCI students. I am passionate in the fields of child development and education. I was given the opportunity to become a research assistant in the School of Education under the supervision or Professor Stephanie Reich and graduate student Wendy Ochoa. My focus has been on the influence of mobile devices on the quality of caregiver-child interactions, and specifically how devices affect children’s behaviors. This research interest motivated me to apply and participate in UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program), where I was granted funding to continue researching this topic. Gaining research experience has been an extremely vital part of my college experience, as it has inspired me to wish to continue researching areas of child and adolescent development in graduate school. I am extremely grateful for all of the wonderful experiences and opportunities that UC Irvine has allowed me to have. Because I now consider UCI to be my second home, I will miss it dearly when I graduate this spring.
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