Guided by her passion for social justice and public health, Taylor Beckwith ’20 is working to make a difference in the well-being of her community.
When Beckwith began her college career, she quickly immersed herself in life on campus and knew she wanted to help. One of her first accomplishments was helping lead the passage and implementation of the tobacco-free policy on the Whittier College campus.
Taking her cause off-campus, Beckwith--a psychology major with minors in public health and social work--is currently an intern with the Los Angeles County of Education’s tobacco-free program and serves on the COUGH (Campuses Organized and United for Good Health) board for the California Youth Advocacy Network, an organization that works to lower the use of tobacco by teenagers and young adults.
“[At Whittier] I gained a greater insight into who I am as a person, what my core values are, and my real dreams and aspirations,” said Taylor. “I accepted my passion for public health and found a way to connect that to psychology and sociology. Whittier College taught me the value of hard work, in academics, athletics, work, and in maintaining relationships.”
When she’s not leading the cause for a healthier environment, Beckwith is hitting the green and making strides. She is a four-year, nationally recognized golfer and currently holds the women’s golf program record for the lowest single round. She was team captain of Whittier’s golf team and was also named the 2019-20 Female Presidential Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Beckwith also worked on campus as a first-year writing associate, an Orientation Advisor, and a peer mentor in the psychological sciences department. On the co-curricular side, she was involved in the Poet Student Athlete Leadership Academy, Psi Chi Psychology Honors Society, and Cru Campus Ministry during her time at Whittier.
After Whitter, Beckwith will be heading to Houston, Texas, where she has accepted a year-long service internship with the nonprofit organization Casa de Esperanza. She will be serving as a Hands of Hope intern and will be living as a caregiver, social worker, and foster parent for children in transitional foster care. After this service year, she plans to return to Southern California and attend graduate school to receive a master’s degree in public health and applied psychology.
“I think Whittier College has prepared me for both my service year opportunity and for graduate school by providing me with a diverse education and experiences in service learning, volunteer work, and mentorship,” she said. “Whittier expanded my knowledge of the world, the meaning of education, and the value of my work.”
