Class of 2024

Even as early as middle school, Brianna Battles (Serra Catholic, '24) felt that there was a career path out there made just for her: biomedical engineering. (Not many kids dream of building life-saving medical devices...but maybe they should).

"Around middle school, I started gravitating towards science-y things," I think it was during my 8th-grade year -- I was suddenly like, 'I want to be a biomedical engineer.' My sophomore year, through Crossroads' SPICE program, they paid for me to go to the University of Akron for an engineering camp. I got to explore different fields of engineering and imagine myself doing them. I ended up really liking biomedical engineering."

Battles will head off this fall to Vanderbilt University, one of the top schools in the country (18th in U.S. News & World Report's influential rankings). The school is at the center of Nashville's booming health-tech industry, which isn't quite as well known as country music and hot chicken (but could be someday).

Getting in wasn't an easy process, but it rarely is. She was happy to have College Counselor Aaron Chapman to advise her throughout the process.

"I'm the first in my family to go to college, so it's really nice having someone like Mr. Chap in your corner," says Battles.

“Growing up, everyone would always say how college is different than everything else you’ve experienced,” says Battles. “Crossroads encourages you to take those harder classes in high school so you’re prepared and gives you extra tutoring when you need it. Crossroads helps you realize that college is different -- but that you can handle it.”