Psychology: Personal Statement Essay

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.

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

There are several reasons why the field of psychology has held a great fascination for me; personal, general and professional. These reasons, explained and justified, should correlate to how I find myself to be writing this paper. Continuing in this vein should bring us to a determination of how these areas of interest correspond with my professional and academic experience, finally leading me to a place where I can make a prediction of what I hope to contribute to the field through receiving my doctorate in the philosophy of psychology. Delving into the first reason requires delving into a very personal part of my life – my family.

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.

When I was in fifth grade, I had the realization that I wanted to study Psychology. It became such a prominent thought that by the time I was a freshman in high school I was one hundred percent sure that I would dedicate my entire life to expanding my knowledge on such an interesting topic. I was so deeply intrigued by how different every single person is and how it all boils down to every single thought they have. Sophomore year I suffered from severe anxiety. This further engraved the idea that I wanted to help people focus on their mental health and bring attention to how important it is. My junior year of high school I was able to take AP Psychology. I was shocked by how many different branches there are and how the endless possibilities

I am applying to the DIS Stockholm study abroad program because of its focus on hands-on learning, on active engagement with the community, and on Forensic Psychology; opportunities that will provide me with a strong foundation for my future career. My professional interests lie in both laboratory research and clinical healthcare and so in the future, I hope to attend graduate school and to become a clinical psychologist.

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

The event that marked my transition from childhood to adulthood is when I decided I wanted to become a teacher/coach. I've changed the idea of what my career will be a few times and I thought my last choice of psychologist was it. Psychology always interested me and to pursue this work would be fulfilling due to the fact that I would be helping others. The more I involved myself with the debate program and the more I talked to our assistant coach the more I realized how much I enjoyed being part of the debate space and how much I enjoyed teaching others. After school was over and after practice had finished, I headed over to the assistant coach's room. We sat and had a discussion over a scholarship opportunity called 'Teach Forward Houston.' At first I wasn't too

My experiences have made me a dedicated student both inside and outside of the classroom. I do not let anything stop me from achieving my goals. Hearing such negativity where I have lived has enabled me to focus on my goals and remain optimistic, even when faced with grave adversity. Although I have faced many obstacles in my life, I am fully motivated to reach my career goal of being a psychologist.

"Ragland. Session1. Journal" There are many events that I can say have influenced the reason I have decided to take this journey into Psychology. However I must say that it has to be the way I feel the need to help others in trying times. Many are born into hopeless situations and all they may need is the proper support system to go above and beyond what any may have thought they can accomplish. Others may unknowingly place themselves into hopeless situations that leave them with not knowing where or who to turn to. I have close friends who have gotten into trouble and upon their release not know what to do next in

“Some people called it ‘the root of insanity’, by others is known as ‘a spark of holiness’, and sometimes, it’s hard to tell the difference... But if you find something that you truly love, dedicate it all you’ve got; and leave the rest alone.” Roman Gerry- Kites.

When I took an introductory honors psychology course during my sophomore year of high school, I realized that I discovered a career that I would enjoy, be passionate about, and would want to continue learning. Even before that class had ended, my great interest in the course material led me to decided that I would obtain a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. My fascination with the course, mental health, and drive to help others inspired me to choose a university that would provide me with the experiences necessary for this career. I chose the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) for the strength of its psychology program as I found it best suited my academic interests. The program offered specialized courses that pertained to my interests

"Counseling" didn’t exist in my childhood. Mental wellness is hardly a primary concern in Chinese society. People usually ignore its influence, school curricula avoid it, and most Chinese are ashamed to confess their psychological issues. When individuals are unwell they struggle with how to cope and where to seek advice. I was one of these despondent in China. When I fell ill in my teens, it was like being errant in a dark tunnel with no torch to enlighten and guide me out.

I have decided to obtain my masters in Counseling Psychology at your institution, not only to continue my educational path but to further my knowledge in helping the people in my community. Personally I have always had a desire to help out people in my community especially with the power of communication. Recently I have graduated from Virginia Union University and their I took two psychology classes and it helped me realize that counseling and communicating with people was something that I really wanted to do. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in December of 2017 and want to do more with my career then to teach in a classroom. Wanting to still work in the school setting by counseling those students who may need a little guidance. Counseling is something that I know will take a lot of hard work and dedication, and I am ready to dedicate my time to the program to obtain best outcome possible.

I decided to interview someone in the Psychology field. Psychology is in the College of Arts and Sciences. I am attracted to this major because I am currently taking an Introduction to Psychology course, and so far it is very interesting to me so far. It also allows me to pursue the mental health aspect of it. According to my Strong Interest Inventory, I rank high in the investigative theme which is the science interest part of it. Then one of my top ten recommended occupations is a mental health counselor. That’s why I chose Psychology is my major of choice. I interviewed a friend of one of my friends. I was talking to her about this assignment, and she recommended one of her friends. Rachel was the name of the person I interviewed and she