My Next Educational Goal by Hana

My Next Educational Goal by Hana - August 2024 Scholarship Essay

Growing up, I always knew I wanted to give back to others, and I considered various paths, like becoming a doctor or a teacher. However, none of these professions matched my deep love for psychology. My fascination with psychology began in third grade when I entered an exceptional student education classroom. Despite our shared experience of having a learning disability, I was struck by how different we all were. This interest in understanding diverse traits and personalities continued into high school, where I enrolled in an Early Childhood Education class. There, I learned about various learning theories, child development, and the factors influencing growth. I admired how my teacher could resolve conflicts that children faced and began to grow curious about behavior management in the classroom. My understanding deepened when I worked at the Baudhin Preschool at Nova Southeastern University, where I saw firsthand how the environment influences behavior, especially with children with autism.

I found my interest in child, adolescent, and family psychology through undergraduate school. Family is essential in how children grow and the support and advocacy they get for accommodations in school. Growing up, I observed my family's and friends’ lives, saw how some were successful in school, and learned how to advocate for themselves and other friends who slipped through the cracks. This motivated me to become a psychologist to help children like my friends. I also want to be there for my clients as I know the struggles people with disabilities deal with and show them they can still be successful. In undergraduate school, I also helped with research on how white noise affects cognition, especially for people with attention deficit hyperactive disorder and older adults with hard hearing.

My undergraduate experience has shaped me in many ways. Undergraduate school shaped my understanding of helping others and developed my work ethic in psychology through research and hands-on experience. My next educational goal is to Pursue a Clinical Psychology Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology (PSY.D) with a concentration in child, adolescent, and family psychology. This would help me achieve my dream of improving the lives of children and youth with disabilities. I want to learn more about assessments and treatments aimed at helping stabilize the mental health of those with learning disabilities or children who come from broken family homes. Above all, I want to be there for children and families and help them through the most challenging situations.