Small town, big dreams: a student finds her place at UC

Adalyn Heins, CAHS ’26, knew she was ready for a bigger arena. She had grown up in Johnstown, Ohio, a town of 5,300 about 30 miles east of Columbus. As she looked toward college, she wanted to be part of a community that offered more opportunities than what her hometown provided.

“I was initially drawn to UC’s College of Allied Health Sciences because of the strong academics, which is very valuable to me, and the extracurricular opportunities like the student organizations, nonprofits and volunteering,” Heins says.

Touring campus confirmed her choice. “Everyone has a strong sense of belonging and was super proud to be a Bearcat,” she says. “When I first stepped on campus on my first tour — I know it sounds kind of cliché, but when you know, you know.”

Nevertheless, transitioning from a small town to a big university was challenging. “I graduated high school with about 100 students,” Heins says. “Coming to a university where 100 students lived on my floor in my dorm was a bit intimidating at first.”

But that feeling didn’t last long. She enrolled in Learning Communities, which groups a small number of students into designated first-year courses, allowing them to build friendships while accessing additional institutional support as needed. “It was a very good stepping stone, especially going from a class size of 20 to 500 the very next year.”

Heins has flourished with the help of several scholarships. “My scholarships have been more than just financial support,” she says. “There are multiple organizations on UC’s campus, which I truly value, and I’ve been able to partake in multiple programs, such as Student Alumni Council, Greek Life, even volunteering outside of Cincinnati. The scholarships have allowed me to invest in those opportunities while not having to worry about how I’m going to afford the next semester, and I’ve been truly grateful.”

And she’s proud that donors who have supported her scholarships saw something in her as a student and believed in her when she may not have believed in herself.

Heading into her fourth year on a physician assistant (PA) track, Heins will be the one giving back and helping new students feel secure. As a newly appointed CAHS Ambassador, she will have the opportunity to mentor and share her experiences with incoming students. “In kind of a full-circle moment, I’ll be telling them, ‘I was in your shoes, but I promise if you come here, you will be successful in your program.’”

UC’s faculty, she continues, is not only passionate about what they’re teaching. “They also care about what the students are learning. I’ve never felt it was about me versus the professor. I’ve always felt they’re right with us and care about our success in the program and in the future.”

Away from the classroom, Heins has become a well-known presence at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. During the last three and half years she has worked there as a student researcher, volunteer and patient care assistant. Her dream job would find her working there full-time as a PA in one of the many fields for which she is being trained. “I’d love to work at Cincinnati Children’s,” she says. “I always say once you come to Cincinnati, you never really leave.”

Featured image at top: Adalyn Heins is a student in UC's College of Allied Health Sciences. Photo/UC Alumni Association