Sydney Brooks, '25 BS

Starting my freshman year of fall of 2021, I played for the ACHA D1 ASU Women's Ice Hockey team! I continued to play for the entire season and joined the sorority Alpha Epsilon Phi.

In my sophomore year, I continued pursuing my degree, a BS in Speech and Hearing Science, and discovered that I had a deep passion for the subject. I decided to stop playing ice hockey for ASU to focus more on my studies. 

Throughout my junior year, I grew closer to the staff in Speech and Hearing Sciences, specifically Dr. Weinhold and Dr. Bos, and they motivated me to continue my education to its highest potential.

While I initially planned on going to PA school, I realized (with the help of my mentors) that my grades and accomplishments were sound enough for me to consider applying to medical school. No student that I am aware of has pursued an MD degree following my degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences, so it was daunting to figure everything out myself.

I began building my clinical hours with the help of the ASU pre-health department and Handshake and secured a position as a scribe in an emergency department.

As a pre-med student with no student to model my application after, I was truly blazing my own trail and continued to be involved in the SHS community in whichever way possible.

I became a part of NSSHLA and joined them at the AZ Capitol to advocate for bills pertaining to the ArSHA community (Arizona Speech and Hearing Association). I then pursued my certificate to become a Speech Language Pathology Assistant, and completed it through ASU's internship program during my senior year.

There was also a moment in March of 2024, when I helped the ASU police department apprehend an armed robbery suspect through the LiveSafe app. I received a Citizens Meritorious Citation and attended their annual award ceremony. 

Being from Houston, TX, I was unaware of the life and community I placed myself in at ASU, but I am so glad that Arizona has become my new home! Presently, I matriculated in the fall of 2025 summa cum laude with the Moeur Award, and through the help of the ASU pre-health program, I am studying for the MCAT using their Blueprint 515+ course. I am applying to Medical School this summer and aspire to work in the speech and hearing realm come residency and fellowship. 

I was able to obtain my current position, working with Phoenix Children's Hospital as a Newborn Hearing Screening Technician, through one of my classmates after recommending me to the team in March of 2025.

I aspire to be a physician in the valley who advocates for both speech and hearing and helps bridge the gap between communities through research and advocacy. ASU has provided me with the community, resources, and staff who have mentored and encouraged me along the way.