My Future in Psychology by Brooke

My Future in Psychology by Brooke - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my high school career, I struggled to find a major I would be interested in. Many of my peers chose the medical field or a degree in business, however I never found myself gravitating towards those two options. It was not until my sophomore year when my friend took his own life that I made my decision to help those who were struggling like him. I am planning to major in Psychology to help those who are struggling with her their mental health and to help them obtain a further understanding of their emotions.

My friend Landen took his own life on February 7th, 2023. He was a victim of sextortion and felt he had no one to turn to in his moment of stress. His death deeply impacted our small town community and I still struggle today with his passing. I remember thinking I do not want anyone else to go through what myself and my community was going through. This sparked my inspiration to look into the field of Psychology.

I began an in depth search of careers related to Psychology. I knew I wanted to directly help people, whether that be through clients, patients, or students. I looked into becoming a psychiatrist, counselor, psychologist, and many others. The careers that peaked my interest the most were a therapist or a behavioral psychologist. Both of these careers would give myself access to help people directly and work through any issues they may have.

Overall, I am grateful and excited to start my journey in Psychology at UW- La Crosse. With mental health on the rise I feel it is important for the Psychology field to grow along with it. When I enter my career, I want to further develop and break the stigma of talking about suicide and harmful habits. Even if I do decide to switch my major, Psychology will always hold a significant place in my life.