Transitioning From Any Undergraduate Level Course

Growing up as a child, many children would watch cartoons and play video games, but I took an odd liking into watching videos about different mental illness. For the longest, I have been fascinated with the human mind; trying to figure out how it works. Entering into my adulthood, I became an individual who was an open vessel for people to dump their problems into. I get gratification out of being able to help people with their problems and see them with a smile on their face. Being a counselor's is not just making someone's day or listening to their problems, but it is also about spreading mental health awareness to other individuals. I selected the Mental Health Counseling program because one day I seek to become a Mental Health Counselor. Having a Mental Health Counseling degree, will

During and immediately after my undergraduate course, I had the opportunity to work as a volunteer at the American Counseling Association and as a houseparent for an institution that houses mentally ill individuals. The association welcomes students and encourages them to offer voluntary services while they have an opportunity. My experience at the association, as a houseparent, and currently as a paraprofessional for mentally ill adults and children with behavioral problems provided me with a solid footing as well as the necessary resources to prepare for my career in counseling. The experiences gave me an opportunity to attend several conferences and workshops where I had the chance to meet and interact with other professional counselors. These opportunities opened me up and exposed me to numerous challenging situations that helped me to grow both personally and professionally. Interacting with more qualified and experienced people in the association, institution for the mentally ill, and agency that I currently work for has helped me to develop confidence in my work as I sought their assistance and guidance whenever I needed help. The experiences gained while working at the association was helpful to me as I could apply that knowledge and the skills learnt to help my church members. At my church, I was a youth leader and

A doctoral degree combining both supervisory professional mental health counseling skills and counselor education has always been at the forefront of both my personal and professional goals. Being afforded the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision will allow me the ability to enhance my professional competencies and achieve my set goals. My primary desire is to obtain a position as a college professor that will allow me to nurture the professional growth and maturity of future mental health professionals. Pursuing the doctoral degree will simultaneously assist in developing skillsets that will further prepare me for advanced opportunities in not only teaching but supervision and research. Additionally, I desire to devote time and research to small rural communities to establish prevention based programs that will bridge communities as it relates to mental health challenges. A PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Capella University will afford me the opportunities to positively impact change in future professionals and the communities for which I serve.

Unlike other high schools, Ward Melville offers a wide range of classes anyone can take. I especially enjoyed my senior year because I took many classes that I was genuinely interested in. I didn’t take AP Environmental science because it was a convenient to fulfill the graduation requirement. I didn’t take AP Studio Art because I needed an art credit. I took what I wanted to take and what I wanted to earn more about. The freedom to choose, especially for a young adult, is what made it easier to achieve my goal of graduating. In the beginning, as a high school freshman I set the goal to graduate from High School, mainly because I was very intimidated by the other students who did not share the same thirst for knowledge in a class like I did. As I began being able to choose more and more of the classes I wanted to take, I found myself surrounded by the people who also had interests in those subjects. I began to make friends in the classes that I loved, which made my entire high school experience better. The greatest power is the freedom of choice. I set a goal in what I chose and I accomplished it. I plan to carry this philosophy over into my college experience. Instead of spending time on the straight path ahead, I will choose my own journey and let the path ahead swirl and twist as I learn what I want to

The decision to attend graduate school can be one of immense commitment and responsibility. Success requires rigorous planning and well-defined goals, both short-term and long-term. Exceptional communication skills are also necessary to interact effectively with fellow classmates and faculty. Although completion of a Master’s program opens doors to many professional career opportunities, it does not come without challenges. One also must have several strategies in place for dealing with these challenges when they arise. With determination and hard work, overcoming these barriers will lead to success.

As Mr. Cedant’s mentor and past colleague, I offer the highest recommendation for his acceptance into the Master of Arts Counselor Education (Mental Health Counseling Track), at the University of Central Florida. As a first generation college student, Mr. Cedant exemplifies determination and commitment. His ability to remain committed to his goals and responsibilities is admirable and a great indication that he will surpass the requirements, preparations, and expectations of this program. If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact

When I began my undergraduate career, I had the opportunity to be exposed to the full range of psychology courses, all of which tended to reinforce and solidify my intense interest in psychology. However, I was fortunate enough to conduct my own research abroad and assist a graduate student in her dissertation. As my undergraduate work progressed, I found I also had an interest in helping individual who have been involved in relationship violence. I became motivated to become an advocate against relationship violence on campus, which sparked my interest in further to my education to become a therapist.

While education is an important aspect in any child’s life, the social and emotional component is often left out. After speaking with colleagues both MSW and LPC ’s I was left with more questions than answers. However, as I read the required core course lists, the Clinical Mental Health Counselor courses intrigued me.

The Master of Science in Professional Counseling program, as part of the psychology graduate offerings, appeals most to me. Having almost completed a Psychology degree with a concentration in counseling, I feel affirmed in my passion for counseling and look forward to a fulfilling future in the field. Carlow offers an opportunity to attend a master’s class as a visitor to better understand the program and the quality of instruction. I have taken advantage of this offer and consider not only the content of the class I attended fascinating but the professor an excellent lecturer, where he presented the material in a straight forward and tangible

When I first started my college journey I initially majored in Biology. Not knowing what I wanted to do, I was influenced by my advisor to enter the biology field. After my third year, I decided not to pursue biology anymore, and that’s when I discovered my passion for the Psychology field. After receiving my undergrad in psychology, I knew that I wanted to get my masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, but I had no idea of how broad this area is. This week assignment granted me the opportunity to interview someone who has been in this profession for 25 plus years who has worked in all sectors when it comes to mental health counseling. It allowed me to learn the pros and cons of this field and it even gave me more insight and clarity on exactly what I wanted to do. I found this week assignment to be very informative and I believe it is necessary for anyone that’s interesting in entering in this field. I am grateful for the knowledge and advice that I received during this week assignment.

Attending graduate school is incredibly important to my career goals for several reasons. I hope to attend Appalachian State University to complete my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in order to assist people who have experienced trauma relating to sexual assault, abuse, domestic violence, and similar issues. The primary reason that graduate school is essential to my success as a future counselor is that it will teach me the skills to provide competent clinical services to my clients. As a future counselor, it is my ethical and moral responsibility to provide services that help clients and do not harm them. Without continuing my education, I would simply be unable to do this. Attending a graduate program will allow me to participate in classes, practicums, and internships that will teach me a wide range of essential skills. Classes offered through the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, such as Multicultural Counseling, Counseling Theory and Techniques, and Helping Relationships will all be vital in helping me learn to provide competent, empirically-backed therapeutic services. Additionally, elective courses such as Sexual Abuse Counseling and Women’s Issues in Counseling are especially relevant to my goal to become a

There are several reasons in my personal and professional life that have led to my decision to pursue a graduate degree in mental health. As an educator, I work with many students who struggle with disorders of mood and behavior. The most rewarding moments of my career are the days when I can help a student overcome a mental hurdle that changes their perspective on how they view their own well-being. As I continue to work with students on these issues, I find myself frustrated with the limited skill set I have to offer. I’ve always known that as much as I love working with youth, it has been my goal for many years to work with a more diverse range of clients, as well as to have the opportunity to conduct research and promote awareness of mental

Transitioning into higher education presents challenges for all students, whether it’s their age or previous educational history. Numerous individuals are extremely nervous as they are entering into an advanced environment such as higher education. This because college is a new learning environment at a completely different level. However, freshmen find college to be difficult at first because it’s harder for them to adjust. That’s why many universities should have student centers in place to help students. Student centers give students the pathway for flexible learning as it results in being successful in higher education (Baužienė & Vosyliūtė 2015).

Looking back, I now have higher expectations about the duties of a school counselor and acknowledge the areas in which the counseling department at my school lacked. Most notably being that I was never given any traditional form of counseling. Unfortunately, I think this is due to the this growing field having not yet obtained its identity of a counseling emphasis. I knew that I could go to my counselor for academic advisement, I was sure that I would get more assistance if I struggled with my classes, but I do not believe that my counselor took an active approach of inquiring about mental health. Instead the counseling department seemed focused on student’s only when grades were down.

As an upcoming high school senior, attending college would be the next step of my educational career. Adjusting to the differences of college courses is known to be quite difficult for college freshmen. Preparing myself for the difficulties and demands of college courses would be immensely valuable as I would be able to gain experience to make the transition a bit easier. Additionally, with this opportunity, I would be able to gain insight into how a college class functions and adapt to the expectations and standards of higher education. Adjusting to the expectations of a college class will improve my time-management skills and study habits as they will surely be used in the future. As I hope to further my education, taking these courses will assist me during my transition from high school to college and