Why I Chose School Psychology

My name is Courtney Torok and I am currently a senior here at Kennesaw State University. I am graduating this December with a degree in psychology. I am originally from Michigan and moved down here to Georgia with my family just before starting at Kennesaw State University. I started off majoring in chemistry with the intent of applying to some kind of medical program, but eventually found that my passion was psychology. I have always wanted to work in the “helping” field. After graduating, I plan on applying to graduate school for school psychology programs where I will earn both my Master of Science in School Psychology and Specialist in School Psychology degrees. Ideally, I would love to be accepted into a graduate school in Florida, as

I am not the kind of person that backs down from a challenge. When I was offered to take AP Psychology I already knew I'd be taking two other AP classes. I knew from personal experiences that AP classes came with stress and a lot of rigorous work. It didn't take long for me to come up with an answer: “I'd love to take AP Psych.”

While working as an aide in multiple classrooms in the school age program at CCDD, my interest in a side of psychology that I had known little about before, quickly grew. The experience I had my first semester interning led me to accept a part-time position as an instructor’s assistant for the program for the rest of the year. Throughout the year, my position provided me with a greater understanding of the needs of diverse learners and the tools needed to ensure that all children

Psychology has always fascinated me, learning about classical conditioning (Ivan Pavlov), personality the id, ego, and superego (Sigmund Freud), were all interesting subjects in my high school introduction to psychology class. This subject was very interesting that it planted a desire that I had never forgotten, the desire of wanting to be a psychologist. The dysfunctional home environment in which I grew up also played a role in my decision. Although, I presently I hold a BA in Information Systems, I decided to return to school for my

“Few fields of study offer more career opportunities than does psychology” (Sternburg 3). There are a wide selection of specialties a person could go into with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. In graduate school, which is a must to attend, there is the option to explore the different specialities or to go into the desired specialty without any research of the others. There are also many options within a specific specialty. There is the option to be a teacher, to work for various organizations, be a speaker, to have your own practice, and many others. In the psychology field these options can all be combined. In fact it is expected of psychologists to do more activities involving their specialty than solely sit in an office and listen to patients. There are two specialities that I am interested in however, over the years, these specialties have become very similar. Clinical and counseling psychology have evolved to become one in the same. Someone who specializes in clinical psychology are more

My subject of attention is school psychology and career choice is school psychology. I have researched this topic and found lots of valuable information to discuss. I will cover all aspects of this career including a definition of what it involves on a day to day basis, why I have chosen this career as my subject of interest, common personality characteristics and values that go along well with this job. I will also talk about the minimum requirements and educational path that must be followed for this career choice along with advancement opportunities. Lastly, I will discuss the leading companies in this area, local perspectives, and present outlooks and salaries that can be expected

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.

College is important to me because I feel like it is step one of many to achieving my goal of becoming a psychologist that helps people with their mental disorders. I chose Thomas College to be my college because I visited it during my senior year of high school and it seemed like a nice establishment. When I would think about attending Thomas I would mainly think about the strip of road between the hall of flags and the athletic center. I would often fantasize about myself walking that strip of road on my way to the gym because I really wanted to utilize the gym if I went here. I chose Psychology as my major because I have seen, heard and encountered mental disorders throughout my life and it’s just something I think I would really love to

At this point in my life I am eager to continue my education in the hopes of mastering my purpose of helping others. I realize that by way of consequence of difference, the intersectionality of many factors of an individual’s life can lead to negative experiences and this is an aspect of society I hope to change. Also, my dream of opening my own psychology office would not be possible without furthering my education. This degree will allow me to counsel at risk youth and make a difference in their lives. I know that continuing my education through this program will prepare me for the professional practice I will encounter daily and help to lay the foundation of my future as a helpful member of society.

I am interested in being a school psychologist for a variety of reasons. First, I believe that my background in working with children and families, and my B.A. in psychology are essential combinations that will be helpful in my pursuit of the degree. Second, I would like to work with children in a variety of educational situations, such as those in need of special education classes and those in talented and gifted programs. Third, I believe it is essential to work directly with the entire family system, not just the child. The child's progress depends on the home environment and the academic environment equally. This academic environment includes all professions (i.e., teachers,

Psychology is the study of the mind, its biology, and behavior if the individual. The father of psychology, Wilhelm Wundt, used objective measurement and controlled analyzing to find and emphasize separation between psychology and philosophy (McLeod). Wundt opened the Institute for Experimental Psychology at the University of Leipzig in Germany in 1879, using his background in physiology to study reactions and sensations (McLeod). There is no doubt that he, along with the later help of Sigmund Freud, launched what is now modern psychology. Psychology and its research helped the world understand the inner workings of the mind and how it affects everyone around us.

What individuals need to realize is employment figures vary by specialty. For example, those who choose to pursue a career in health psychology or counseling will likely find they have very good job prospects if they possess a doctoral degree. The same holds true for those who choose school industrial-organizational psychology careers. Regardless of which field an individual chooses to specialize in, he or she needs to be prepared to work with individuals from various disciplines.

Educational Psychology fosters an understanding for student development and helps teachers be effective, design lessons and make a difference for their students. First we must define what education psychology is, and how it applies student development and to the education community. The textbook, “Educational Psychology” written by Anita Woolfolk, (2012), defines educational psychology as, “A distinct discipline with its own theories, research methods, problems, and techniques. Educational psychologists do research on learning and teaching and, at the same time, work to improve educational practice.” (p. 12). Essentially, educational psychology is the study and research behind creative and effective learning strategies and the principles for development and learning. It enables teachers to reach and engage their students at the highest level of learning with effective learning strategies. Learning educational psychology through the study of cognitive development and the influences on children and adolescents as they grow, the implication of moral and identity development, as well as obligations teachers have professionally to create safe learning environments that promote high expectations and inclusion of all learners, helps teachers to nurture and understand their students. For example, learning about student diversity and culture, characteristics, learning levels, how to design and present content, enhance classroom management creating a safe effective learning

Grinnell College has given me a wonderful opportunity to explore many different subjects I hold interest in. When I enrolled here, I envisioned myself as an English or History major. After dabbling in subjects from Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies to Spanish, I have found that I hold a passionate interest in Psychology. I have always had an interest in mental disorders and diseases, which led me to my Tutorial: Exploring Autism. It was there that I was introduced to my first true whiffs of psychological thought, what we understand of how the mind functions, and what some abnormalities look like. I continue to hold my interest in mental disorders and disabilities, and would thus like to focus on areas of psychology that pertain to it.

Applied psychology means various things to me, but more importantly it represents the lense through which we examine the world around us and our relationship with each other. When we expand our minds and open our ears to the ideas and thoughts of other people besides ourselves, we effectively apply psychology to our daily life and the challenges that face us. I believe that applied psychology does not represent a particular thing but rather a fluidness that flows in and out of our minds both consciously and unconsciously. The three life themes which most critically relate to my experience with applied psychology in my life include: college life, family life, and my challenges. These three critical areas indicate where I actively see applications of psychology in my life thus far.