Leah VanAntwerp's Journey Through Holistic Healing

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Leah VanAntwerp sat at her desk, surrounded by stacks of research papers and books preparing to write her Lee Honor’s College thesis to complete her nursing degree. Two years ago, Leah had been diagnosed with Lyme disease, and the journey since then had been anything but easy, but Leah was not one to give up easily. 

Determined to find a way to manage her symptoms holistically, Leah decided to focus her literature review on holistic modalities like yoga, diet modifications, and acupuncture. She believed that these approaches could offer relief and improve her quality of life. As she delved into her research, Leah discovered that there were not many large-scale studies on these topics. This realization only fueled her determination to contribute to the growing body of knowledge. 

Leah's faculty mentors, Amy Geib, Faculty Specialist I and Sally Vliem, Master Faculty Specialist/BSN Coordinator, were her guiding lights. They introduced her to new databases and provided invaluable feedback on her drafts. With their support, Leah navigated the challenges of finding credible sources and piecing together her review.  

“I have had many hands-on experiences in college of Health and Human Services through clinicals, simulations, labs and workshops in classrooms. These experiences have been very beneficial to my learning and make learning more fun and attainable,” said Leah. 

Leah's literature review was more than just an academic exercise; it was a personal quest for healing. She knew that her work could inspire others facing similar challenges. As she prepared to defend her thesis, Leah was ready to share her findings and continue her journey towards holistic well-being. 

The honors thesis is a time-honored tradition in the Lee Honors College. It is an opportunity for students to demonstrate to themselves and others the knowledge and skills they have developed during their undergraduate studies and honors experience. The general purpose of the thesis is to create a capstone work that reflects the expertise they have developed in their major field of study or interest.