Psychology and The Drive to Help People by Alexis

Psychology and The Drive to Help People by Alexis - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

I have always been interested in how the mind works. Even as a young kid, I was fascinated with it. My sister would do something impulsive, like whacking me on the head with a tennis racket just cause (true story), and I could never wrap my head around the why of it. Why would she do that? What made her that way? I have thought this way for my entire life, always curious about the why of everything; the background of a person, the perspective they have, the decisions that shape their life.

For most of my life, I always wanted to be an elementary school teacher, since they can help shape kids' lives. I knew that I wanted to make a difference in the world, so I decided to start small. My mom was a teacher as well and I thought why not. I thought that was until 9th grade. I had moved the year before, and I was barely getting used to my new area. I went back to my hometown, Longmont, Colorado, excited to visit all my friends. I knew that my friend Lexie had struggled with depression all her life, but she seemed excited--through text exchange--that I would be able to see her. The day we were supposed to meet, however, she attempted to overdose on her medication to stop the pain she was in. It sent me reeling--I could not understand why someone would do that. Why would she do it if she were going to see me? Afterwards, confused and stumbling with what I knew, I started to read every book I could get my hands on about mental illness. I had struggled a bit with my own self-image, but not as bad as Lexie. I researched, studied, and searched for all the information I could get, trying to understand why.

I am planning to major in Psychiatry with a Ph.D. with a minor in psychology and mental health. My goal is to be able to help people like Lexie, to change the outcome of their own story and those who know them. I am planning for about twelve years of school, including residency and medical school, to become a psychiatrist. I have always been interested in the mind but now I want to use that interest to help others. I do not want others to feel the same way that I did--helpless. I want to be the reason someone can stay, and with the growing issues with anxiety, I hope to accomplish that. This is my drive for my major in psychology--continuation with life, even if medication and aid from others is needed. I hope to be that help.