By Kellie Britch, College of Arts and Sciences
During her time with Seniors in Service, Garling has helped develop and improve programs to better serve the community. (Photo by Corey Lepak)
Aria Garling was what some might call a “nontraditional student.”
After graduating high school, Garling earned her associate’s degree at St. Petersburg
College and began her journey at USF St. Petersburg.
But life had other plans.
“Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you planned for,” joked Garling,
reflecting on the unexpected turns her educational path took after she gave birth
to her son in 2006.
While becoming a mother was a life-changing and deeply meaningful chapter in her life,
it did temporarily shift her priorities.
Nearly two decades later, Garling, who graduated from the USF Department of Anthropology in 2024, is the program director for Health Buddies, a local nonprofit that helps adults living with chronic conditions improve their
health through volunteer-led telephone interventions.
“At Health Buddies, we primarily serve individuals who are suffering from chronic
conditions and pain, most of which are over 55 years old,” said Garling, whose work
with Health Buddies inspired her to return to USF and complete her degree. “However,
loneliness is absolutely a chronic condition, and if someone wants phone calls, they
are going to be able to connect with a health buddy.”
The new role aligned with her passion for people and inspired her to return to USF
to finish her degree, an accomplishment she describes as one of the most momentous
moments in her life.
“My time in the College of Arts and Sciences, particularly my studies in anthropology,
deeply influences my work at Health Buddies,” said Garling. “Understanding human behavior,
social structures and the factors that contribute to isolation has helped me design
programs that foster meaningful connections between generations.
Garling graduated with honors in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Aria Garling)
“Critical thinking and research skills allow me to assess community needs, measure
impact and continuously improve our initiatives. Most importantly, my education emphasized
the power of listening and empathy — both of which are at the heart of Health Buddies,
where we work to combat loneliness and improve well-being for older adults.”
Of course, pursuing a degree while balancing things like a career and family can be
a challenge, regardless of passion. For Garling, it helped to focus on each small
step instead of getting overwhelmed by the end goal.
“The biggest thing for me with returning to school was to just keep moving forward,”
Garling said. “If you can’t take a full load, that’s O.K. Even taking that one class
will be one class closer to your graduation.”
Garling will be continuing her education journey this Fall as she starts USF’s graduate
program for applied medical anthropology. She hopes to pursue a concurrent degree in the College of Public Health with a concentration in community nutrition as she continues to build her work addressing
social drivers of health.
“Having an indirect path to graduation shaped a lot of who I am today,” Garling said.
“It gave me an even deeper appreciation for education and resilience, and I was proud
to return to USF with a stronger sense of purpose.”
To get involved, visit seniorsinservice.org/health-buddies/.