Personal Statement : Psychology And Sociology

Hmmm………What shall I tell you about me? You, the person who will decide my fate, my fate as to whether I would go to CU-Boulder, go live in Colorado, go snowboarding in the mountains, meet lots of interesting people, and have the most wonderful experience…I better make myself sound worthy. First off, I want you to know that I'm an unparalleled individual, whose outlook on life is of total optimism. Through out my 18 years, I've become freinds with people from all walks of life. I've learned to empathize with just about every one of them, gaining the greatest understanding in a variety of remarkable characters. One of my favorite, a homeless lady who's called Polly, tells the most incredible stories of love and the many

Ever since I was young I have always questioned the human behaviour, it was until I got into my 20s that my interest grew deeper. I began to question why people act the way they do and why every single person has a different reaction to different situation. I find it fascinating how different society and culture can affect someone's behaviour. for example I come from Somalia where in order to discipline your child you have to beat them, and I remember when we first arrived to Britain my mother would punish us by physically beating us if we do something bad, but as she become familiar with the British culture and society her behaviour changed.

While searching the internet, I came across the word self-actualization, (self-actualiˈzation) which means, “the realization or fulfillment of one’s talents and potentialities, especially considered as a drive or need present in everyone (“Library Login”).” I found this definition very interesting and believe that this word can apply to my own life. Self- actualization is a theory in psychology, by Abraham Marlow, that states once you meet your psychological (breathing, food, water, sleep), safety (security of body, employment, resources, morality, health, and property), love/belonging (friendship and family), and esteem needs (self-esteem, achievement, respect of/by others) you can reach self-actualization. This word really stood out to me because, as a college student, I am trying to reach self-actualization. Every day, I go to class I am striving to do my best so that I can graduate and become the best version of myself by reaching the fullness of my potential.

I’ve always loved the thrill of a challenge, and what’s more challenging than attempting to study the most mysterious thing known to mankind: the human brain? Dr Oliver Sacks said ‘If a man has lost a leg or an eye, he knows he has lost a log or an eye; but if he has lost a self – himself – he cannot know it, because he is no longer there to know it.’ Without memory, what are we at all? Memory makes us the person that we are; we build from our past experiences and use them to adapt our personality, and the complexity of it all is what intrigues me to pursue psychology at university and into a career as a neuropsychologist. In 2009 a family member of mine was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease. This was one of the first elements that sparked

Pursing a career as a medical doctor is an opportunity for me to mentor youth in underserved populations. As a child, I was raised in the low income, urban community of Roxbury, MA. Although not as notorious today, the neighborhood had garnered negative attention for its high crime rates. My mother emigrated from Haiti and raised me as a single parent. Due to our financial circumstance, Roxbury became our permanent residence. I have always felt there was something lacking in Roxbury in comparison to other towns I visited. My teenage years were largely spent in the suburban town of Stoneham where I attended high school. There was a literal difference in air quality and a psychology contrast in future prospects. While native students of

There are few certainties of what one will encounter during life. A common joke names two: death and

Abraham Maslow theorized the concept of self-actualization which is the term used to describe the state of self-fulfillment in which people realize their highest potentials in their own unique way. Maslow’s theory includes sublevels that must be achieved before reaching self-actualization. In this paper, I will explain how each of his previous levels have affected my life, and give an idea of when I may hope to achieve self-actualization. Self-actualization is the term that Abraham Maslow used to describe the state of self-fulfillment in which people realize their highest potentials in their own unique way. The personal reflections accommodate to my perspective of the Maslow’s Theory.

Through the last two years as a student at Manchester Community College, I have been able to experience numerous classes and meet wonderful professors. In my first semester of college, I decide to take a general psychology class with Dr. Francine Rosselli-Navarra. She taught me that psychology is a science, which studies our minds and behaviors. After that class I knew that I did not just want to study the physical feature of the brain and the brain process, but how the interactions with and within our brains that produce our cognitive functions. After completing that psychology class I realized that I did not wish to be a biology major anymore, instead I wished to study in the field of Neuroscience, which is a combination of both biology and psychology.

Self-actualization refers to the desire to achieve one’s greatest potential or as Maslow writes “what a man can be, he must be” (Maslow). Abraham Maslow, a researcher and a pioneer in the field of psychology, strongly believed that people can control their own behavior and have the abilities to reach their full potential. Maslow is perhaps best known for his “Hierarchy of Needs” that culminates in self-actualization. This hierarchy begins with so-called “basic needs” - psychological, safety, social, and esteem - and concludes with the “growth need”. Among other characteristics, Maslow describes self-actualized people as highly creative, independent, genuine individuals who are resistant to enculturation and accept themselves for who

Self actualization, is the sense that one is fulfilling one’s potential and is doing what one is suited for and capable of (Zastrow &

Statement of Interest My journey into the wonders of neuroscience began in high school. A psychology class provided me with my first insight into what drives us as humans. This course was a relief for me because it felt like I finally found a question that innately resonated with me. However, studying psychology seemed as if I was just scratching at the surface of something remarkable, something of incredible magnitude, which I could not yet uncover; the inner workings of the brain. While human behavior was interesting, it was the underlying mechanisms in the brain that captured my imagination. When deciding on a major for my time as an undergraduate, I realized that my deep curiosities could not be satisfied in the field of psychology

I bet almost all of the essay’s you read today will be chalked full of clichés about how “I hope to grow as a learner and as a person.”, “I want to learn as much as I can and get a good education”, “I want to expand my horizons.” Here’s the thing about statements like these they are all cliché and dull but they are all true.

I was born in India to Indian parents and relocated to Japan, where I spent my childhood. Because of this, I learned Japanese language and culture alongside Malayalam, my mother tongue. While living in Japan, I picked up on significant cultural values that were repeatedly emphasized. For one, I began to internalize the value of humility. My father’s boss at the time was emblematic of this trait; despite being the successful CEO of his company, he rode a bicycle to work every morning. He remained grounded despite having cause to flaunt his riches. I strive to apply this sense of humility to all aspects of my future medical education and career. I believe I need to practice humility to learn effectively and meaningfully. As a student, I can practice

I developed an interest in sociology when I first moved to Santa Barbara and started taking my first college course in it. Being fascinated by the many humanitarian and cultural phenomenon the course introduced me to, I decided to take more classes on varying topics pertaining to sociology. I have always liked helping people and trying to understand the world, and the broadness of the subject is what initially drew me in. As I was able to study various groups of people and how everyone is directly or indirectly influenced by society, I started looking at the world differently. I felt as though I had never had the type of insight into my life or the lives of people around me and the new knowledge encouraged me to pursue a degree in the field.

When I decided to go back to college my first thought was to major in Psychology and become a Drug Addiction Counselor. Once enrolled into my first semester of classes that decision changed, not because I did not like or was not interested in psychology. My goals for my future changed because of the time frame and the job availability for this field. I learned that most of the jobs available in this field required a PHD, I still feel that psychology should be required for every field of study.