Where Success Means More

Holly (Turpin) Semrow (’08) Bachelor’s in Music Therapy, Alverno College

Music Therapist, Catawba Hospital, Catawba, Va.

My Career: "I work at an in-patient psychiatric hospital for people with severe and persistent mental illness. I coordinate an interdisciplinary treatment team and also facilitate recovery-based groups."

WLHS Experience: "I feel as if I’ve come full circle because Mr. Gottschalk created math songs to train our brains and now I use music to train my patients’ brains. It’s an amazing coincidence in my life and a powerful memory for me."

College Advantage: "Wisco gives a really good education and prepared me to do well in college. I was able to dig into my college work because I had already been doing that in high school."

Career Path: " Music has always been important to me and I was involved in many music activities at Wisco –band, pit orchestra, Inspiration, and musicals. I was also drawn to psychology so, when I met a music therapist at my church, I thought it was the perfect way to combine my interest in psych with my love of music."

Faith Witness: "I took the Friendship to Marriage class with Pastor Becker and I reference it so often when I’m witnessing. There are many conversations I’ve had where share the reasons a Christian approach and commitment to marriage delivers so many blessings."

My Calling: "I enjoy what I do because I get to use God’s gift of music to be a light for others in a difficult time."

The Semrow Family Holly pictured with her husband, Josh ('08), who is also a Wisco alum

Julie (Wilson)

Church

(‘95), RDN, CEDRD-S, CD

Bachelor’s in Dietetics, University of Kentucky

Co-founder, owner, and nutrition director of Opal:Food+Body Wisdom, Seattle, Wash.

My Career: " Opal:Food+Body Wisdom is an eating disorder treatment center where individuals from all over the country come for intensive treatment for approximately two months. Patients receive care that is athlete friendly, weight-inclusive, and grounded in Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy."

Career Path: "I was good at math and science (thanks to Mr. Leverence and Mrs. Kren) and found nutrition as a field that could use my skills in an interpersonal, helping profession. The psychology of eating is where my passion grew and led me to see that my role in the body of Christ was to help individuals trust their bodies and live life appreciating their body as a gift, not endlessly trying to fix it."

WLHS Experience: "The foundation of Christian education I received at Wisco influenced me to be an ethical, fair, and compassionate business owner. In addition, while in high school, I found community and personal growth as a Viking volleyball player, cheerleader, and track athlete. My nature as a “cheerleader” has gone far off the sport court and has been appreciated by my staff, clients, and family. Thanks, Karen Sitz, for showing me what a good team huddle can look like!"

My Calling: "Struggles around food and body are unfortunately very normalized since dieting and body weight shaming is so commonplace. So, I encourage all to take the time to understand your body and embrace being an eater since that authentic connection to oneself can enhance your overall mental health."

WLHS Experience:

"I had a great time at Wisco. I loved my teachers and my class was really tight. I felt like we all knew each other."