Major: psychology
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Arianna has a knack for gaining the attention and admiration of children.
Whether it’s because she’s a Husker Track and Field athlete studying to become a pediatric healthcare professional or because she’s grown up helping care for all her little cousins, Arianna welcomes the love.
“My biggest goal in life is to inspire other people to follow their dreams. I’ve always been good with kids, and I’ve always wanted to be an inspiration for them.”
This goal is what led Arianna to intern with CEDARS this summer, a local organization that supports at-risk children. From helping with injuries to communicating with parents, Arianna’s role at CEDARS provided her with invaluable experience that aligned with her career aspirations in pediatric care.
“Seeing my mom recover from a life-threatening surgery when I was younger sparked my interest in medicine. I knew I wanted to be in the medical field and help others in the same way.”
Her internship at CEDARS wasn’t just about supervision — it was about making connections and learning how to communicate effectively with children.
“You have to talk to kids at their level of comprehension,” she explains. “Understanding kids’ needs and helping them understand you is crucial. This experience definitely improved my communication skills and gave me a deeper appreciation for helping my community.”
Arianna is also gearing up for the Nebraska Athletics service trip to Ecuador, where she and fellow Husker student-athletes will build classrooms for local kids.
“Being in America and a student athlete with all these privileges, it’s a huge life lesson to see how people navigate life without the resources we have.”
And while Arianna embraces her role model status for kids around the world, she says it’s especially meaningful in Nebraska.
“Everything I do is for my family and to inspire kids like my younger cousins,” she said. “In Nebraska, we don’t have a ton of pro sports, so Husker athletes are like superheroes to these kids. To be that inspiration for them is really touching.”
