Your Career in Psychology

Your Career in Psychology

Ranisha D. Sloan

Capella University

Abstract

A lack of a support system and an imbalanced life can be very easy to lead a young person’s life in the wrong direction. Being a part of the solution and a helping hand in providing balance and meaning to one’s life can make a huge difference. As I continue in my academic career to take a variety of psychology courses, I have found that I am especially interested in the development in children and adolescents. Experiences and life lessons have inspired me to continue my education in graduate school so I can further my research and make a meaningful contribution to the field of psychology.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Vision and Goals 2

Professional Competencies 4

Professional Requirements 6

Self-Assessment 8

Action Plan 8

Conclusion 9

Your Career in Psychology

Introduction

At what point in life can you really say that you take pleasure in what you do? I have heard far too many times of people talking of ‘enduring’ their work, or simply refer to what they do as just ‘getting by’. I rarely hear of people savoring it, being inspired by it, enjoying it. This is what separates a good student from a passing one. The ones who do well are the ones who are actually enjoying what they do, being passionate. This is my aim in both my academic career and my working life as well, to find fulfillments in and actually enjoy what I do for a living. Though this may seem like a common aspiration, few ever achieve it. My passions and aspirations for my future and career directly relate to the field of Psychology with special interest in child and adolescent development.

Vision and Goals

My goals and vision that I have established as a practitioner scholar in Psychology directly relate to children and youth. The prospect of practical experiences seems both exciting and valuable. As an undergraduate, I was provided with the opportunity to perform volunteer/intern work with a nonprofit in South Bay in Carson. The exposure to low-income, diverse population, and the services provided at the center inspired my desire to work in a field that aims for well-being of children and their development. My objective would be to attempt to improve the quality of life for all those at risk or living in the more rural areas of their community