Tornberg, a double major in psychology and criminal justice, attended the Healthcare Career Exploration program the summer before her senior year of high school with an idea of her career aspirations.

“While I initially entered the program thinking I wanted to be a doctor, the hands-on experiences — especially learning about pathology and human anatomy — made me realize that medicine wasn’t the right path for me,” said Tornberg.

Looking back, Tornberg said she is grateful to have had a community to support her while rethinking her career.

“Instead of feeling discouraged, I felt supported in exploring other ways to help people, which ultimately led me toward psychology and law,” said Tornberg. “It’s a big reason I knew Quinnipiac was the right fit for me. That moment really stuck with me because it forced me to step back and rethink what I actually wanted for my future.”

In addition to discovering her own interests, Tornberg said she also felt that the pre-college summer program helped prepare her for her university experience.

“The summer program helped me prepare for college by giving me early exposure to a college environment, including navigating campus, engaging in discussions and managing a structured schedule,” said Tornberg. “It definitely gave me an advantage going into my first year because I felt more comfortable and less overwhelmed compared to what I think I would have felt otherwise.”

The experience also helped introduce Tornberg to all that Quinnipiac has to offer and gave her a unique opportunity to learn more about the university.

“That week was my first real exposure to college-level learning and to Quinnipiac’s campuses, and it helped me picture myself there in a way no tour ever could,” said Tornberg.

Tornberg ultimately decided that Quinnipiac was the right fit for her, guided by the experiences she had during the summer program.

"I chose to attend Quinnipiac because of its strong academic programs, but also because of the people. The professors I met during the program were incredibly supportive and I knew I wanted to go to a college where I wouldn’t just be a number,” said Tornberg. “Being able to build real, interpersonal relationships with my professors and classmates was very important to me, and Quinnipiac truly offers that kind of environment. What I love most about the university is how welcoming it feels and how it encourages students to grow both academically and personally.”

Now as a student leader, Tornberg plays a pivotal role in shaping the pre-college summer program experience for future classes of Bobcats as a summer program counselor.

“As a counselor, I made it a priority to create a welcoming and supportive environment where students felt comfortable asking questions, exploring new interests, and even changing their minds,” said Tornberg. “I wanted them to feel the same sense of belonging and clarity that I felt during my own experience.”

As Tornberg works to pursue a career in law, she reflects on her pre-college summer program experience as a critical part of her journey.

“Being able to come full circle — from participant to counselor — was incredibly meaningful and reinforced my connection to Quinnipiac and its commitment to helping students find the path that’s meant for them,” said Tornberg.