Personal Statement
When I was little, having an identical twin was so exciting. We wanted to wear the same clothes, watch the same movies and just be identical. As we got older, it seemed less appealing to be exactly like someone else. By the time we were teenagers, I fought to build and maintain a separate identity. Pausing to reflect on my life, I see that it was those small, seemingly insignificant moments that sparked my interest in human development and behavior.
One of the first classes I took during my freshman year of college was Anatomy and Physiology. This class introduced me to the different brain structures and functions. It was so fascinating that I started looking for every Psychology course available. My interest exploded after studying Developmental Psychology. I remember watching Albert Banduras “Bobo Doll experiments” and thinking about the impact of social learning on children.
I decided to intern in the counseling department at Sandra Day O’Connor High School. I worked with the lead counselor and observed her sessions with students. It was emotional to hear them open up about their lives. Many revealed root issues at home that extended into the classroom and social settings. This often led to lower grades and more visits to the counselor’s office. I realized that I could make a larger impact if I was able to work with the entire family.
I continued with my education and maintained high academic standards, attaining a 4.0 the last three semesters of
Identical twins are many times seen as genetic reproductions representing variations from twin to the other twin and are created because of environmental factors (Cervone & Pervin, 2010). Since identical twins share identical genetics, his or her personality seems to also share similarities. Moreover, the environment can impact fraternal twins, resulting in fraternal twins personalities and his or her characteristics similar to each other. For example, identical twins. Some research shows twins that are raised in the same residence have little differences from those who are raised in a different home.
The one drawback of being a twin is making an identity for yourself. Many assume that since we are 99.9% genetically identical, that I am the same person as him. I have to show that I am separate from my twin for my family, my peers, my teachers and others. Just because I come from the same egg as him does not mean I am a unique and separate human being. Making an identity for myself is one of my main struggles in life as I try to shine out and I have come a long way. Yes, I have a different favorite color than him, orange instead of blue. Yes, I like and dislike different foods than him. Be being proud of my accomplishments with my twin make those that I make on my own that more special. I was a Committee Chair in Youth and Government in a program area that my brother was not. I partook in the Chemistry Olympiad that my brother could not as only one person could go. These standalone activities help shape who I am, but it is my twin who had given me the marble to sculpt. I know that going to college is a big step of me branching out from my twin and I'm ready as it is coming quite
In college, I have taken rigorous classes in biology and psychology. I have had to push myself to succeed in these classes, and the rewards have been worth it. Some of my favorite classes have been classes in which you need to think outside the box, where more than traditional problem-solving skills were
Throughout history, across all cultures, people have been fascinated with twins. In addition to interest in the close emotional ties and biological similarities that twins may share, reports of special twin languages and twin extrasensory perception (ESP) help people to explore ideas of what it means to be human. How similar or different are they to each other? How important are genes and environment for development? Because identical twins share all of their genes, it is the environment—rather than genetics—that accounts for any differences between them.
In reading stories about identical twins my point of view is easily understood. Various types of psychologist have analyzed the study of identical twins. It shows that individuals with the same genetic make-up can be totally different, when it comes to personality. Nurture promotes the twins to grow up as separate individuals. Its a lot better if a twin has his or her own personality rather than the same exact personality of the other half. I think this great debate weighs heavier on the nurture side. As a child my parents, and sibling overshadowed my genetic make-up. No matter how much I thought my physical traits made me behave. It did not affect me more than the things that I had seen and been exposed to. The more things that I had seen around and experienced made me the person that I am today. If my genetic make-up was totally different, to a certain extent, I am sure that I?d behave the same way that I do presently. There are exceptions to that. For instance if I were six foot five and one hundred and ninety pounds, I?d most likely be in the NBA and be really rich. I think if I was really rich and in the NBA I wouldn?t have the same worries that I have today. Even if before I were in the NBA I would have lots of attention and have a lot more confidence. So to an extent I would change a little if my genetic make-up were different. In a sense, genetic make-up is just a competitor to the environmental factors
It was during my senior year of college that I decided I wanted to become a school counselor. Up until my senior year in college at Penn State I did not know where I wanted to take my career but I knew I wanted to work in a school setting and I knew that I wanted to work with kids. When it came time to choose an internship site for my last semester, I chose an alternative school called Buxmont Academy in Bethlehem where I would be shadowing two of their school counselors as well as engaging with the students themselves. I got to work with these children on a more personal level, gaining an understanding of their emotions, experiences, and difficulties, as most of these children came from broken homes, and drug and alcohol related settings. I am interested in becoming a school counselor because I want to help. When I become a counselor I want to make a difference in a child’s life whether that be by simply giving them support that they might not have in their lives or helping them make changes to better themselves and their futures. A counselor has such an important role in helping to shape young children and that is something that I want to be a part of.
My interest in School Psychology is a sheer result of my experiences at various workplaces and certain decisions I have opted for in my life. These experiences have prepared me to pursue advanced studies in the field, while strengthening my passion and in providing me with the background required to succeed in this important area. In order to achieve my full potential in the field, I look forward to entering MEd/EdS program at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
For years I have been fascinated by that mysterious quirk of nature called twins. In my family, there are several sets of identical twins, and I have always concentrated on their similarities. I did not realize that identical twins also have many differences. My identical twin cousins, Sue and Heidi, appear to be perfect mirror images. They love to dress alike. They can feel each other's pain. They sound alike and can complete each other's sentences. But upon taking a closer look, I have found that they are as different as day and night. Aside from Sue and Heidi's outward characteristics, they possess several distinguishing traits that allow them to be viewed as two separate, independent
As I walk through the crowded mall with my sister, little children stare, most adults do a discreet double take, and some bold adults question us outright. “Wow, are you twins?” “Do you know you look the same?” “What’s it like to be a twin?” “Do you have, like, psychic powers, or something with each other?” These are the most common questions twins hear. Almost all twins don’t really mind them and sometimes the attention is cool. Mostly, we just smile tolerantly at each other and answer them as best we can. After all, we don’t really know how to describe being a twin. We have never known anything else. Nonetheless, here we are. So, as a person who might not know exactly what she is talking
There are many events from my childhood that have impacted the person that I am today. One that sticks out in my mind is moving to a different city and school in my first year of junior high. I remember being terrified to make new friends, and to make it worse it was middle school. My mother said that the fear would go away once I started. She said that I would see that it isn't as bad as I was anticipating it to be, and like most situations, she was right. I learned that by facing my biggest fear it would never truly be as scary as I may think it would be. I believe that the experience taught me to dive in even though I may be scared and to know that it will all eventually work out. I believe this relates to developmental psychology in many
Scientists and psychologists everywhere study twins. The argument most commonly studied is nature versus nurture. The focus of this essay, however, is whether or not to separate twins in schools. Some believe the separation is demeaning and traumatic to the twins. The side about to be proved however that is this separation is a necessary step in the individualization of twins. Often, separation sparks the path to individualization.
Identical twins may share the same DNA make up and grow up in the same household, yet they have very distinct personalities. On the other hand, twins that may have been separated at birth, find that years later when they meet up for the first time that they have very similar character traits and experiences. Researchers have been trying to figure out for years if DNA or environment has a bigger factor in determining a twin’s personality. When researchers try to determine how personalities are developed, they often look to twin studies to determine if DNA or life experiences are influential in personality development.
Already getting started next year, I enrolled into a psychology class to get a jumpstart for when I go into college. I chose to enroll into the psychology class because the human mind is something that is very complex and diverse. By me taking this class, I am partially more ahead and more taught than that of a student who doesn’t take the class. And that way, when I get into the psychology major, I have a small intake of what it is all about.
At some point in your life, did you ever wonder how you became the person you are today? What factors might have had an influence in your life to how you behave in society? Developmental Psychology helped me figure out how events in my life molded me into the young adult I am today and helped discover the themes that affected my life. In this paper, I will be focusing on divorce, my personality, premature births, and how I struggled in my academics. I will be explaining this journey throughout these four themes: family influences, personality development, physical development, and cognitive development.
From these studies, researchers have found that twins who have grown up in the same household share similarities in the way they think, act, dress, speak, etcetera. However, with the first type of twin studies, researchers could not differentiate whether the similarities were due to them having identical/similar genetic makeups or growing up in the same environments. Therefore, in order for psychologists to know whether similarities in twins are genetic or socially influenced, they studied twins who grew up in completely different households and environments. The study showed that despite growing up with a different family and in a different environment, they still had noticeable similarities in fashion, interests, and thought processes (K.W. Brown, personal communication, August 29, 2017). Twin studies, as well as other studies, have greatly contributed to our understanding of overall role that genes play in the development of psychological traits and behavior.