Purpose in Action: Taylor Ward Prepares for a Career Helping Others
A passion for helping others has shaped Taylor Ward’s path at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, leading her to pursue careers in both health care and law enforcement.
The Little Rock native will graduate in May with a double major in general biology and law enforcement — bringing together her interests in health care and public service.
Ward has long been passionate about helping others, developing an early interest in the medical field, especially working with children. She describes herself as compassionate and nurturing, with a strong desire to help heal others. Her interest in law enforcement emerged later, during her sophomore year of college.
“My parents worked in law enforcement for more than 50 years combined,” Ward said. “I was fascinated by their work and wanted to learn more on my own, so I took the initiative to enroll in criminal justice classes.”
Ward enjoys studying the law and has also explored an interest in forensic science. As she continued her coursework, she pursued an associate degree in law enforcement.
She chose UA Little Rock because of its proximity to home and strong scholarship opportunities.
“Being able to receive 50% off tuition for the first two years of college was a blessing,” Ward said. “For the past four years, I haven’t had to pay out of pocket for tuition, thanks to my scholarships and, most of all, God.”
The university also holds personal significance for her, as both of her parents are alumni.
On campus, Ward has been actively involved in a variety of organizations, including serving as the Trojan Food Pantry coordinator and as a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, Student Activities Board, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and the Black Scholars Collective.
“Taylor has been a great asset to us in the office, for the Trojan Food Pantry and CLC,” said Teresa Esparza, a student success coach at UA Little Rock. “She has always embraced what’s asked of her, whether it’s representing the pantry and the university at the Arkansas College Hunger Summit, appearing on THV11, or supporting CLC initiatives. She has remained engaged in the program while managing her academics and other extracurricular activities. I have no doubt her ambitious attitude will lead her to great things.”
Ward offers this advice to future UA Little Rock students:
“College isn’t easy. If it were, everyone would have degrees. It takes sacrifice, time, consistency, and hard work. This is a time to learn who you are and work toward who you want to become. Make mistakes and learn from them, but be wise in your choices. Stay disciplined and keep working toward your goals. Most importantly, enjoy every part of college. The four years go by quickly, but the experiences are worth it.”
After graduating, Ward plans to apply to a physical therapy program.