Psychology Statement of Purpose and Personal Statement

Psychology Statement of Purpose and Personal Statement

When I was 12 years old, a cousin (let us call her Jenny) who was living with us at the time as her parents sorted out their marital problems started exhibiting strange behavior. At the time, she was only 14. At first, her strange behavior was barely noticeable but with time, it became clear that something was amiss. We became alarmed when she started refusing to eat meals claiming that her dad could have sneaked in the house (or sent someone) to poison the food as it was being prepared so as to get rid of her. Apparently, for one reason or another, Jenny had quite a low opinion of her dad. To cut the long story short, Jenny was later-on diagnosed with paranoid-type schizophrenia. All along, I had been particularly close to Jenny and her change of behavior left me totally confused. When she was eventually diagnosed with the condition, I became naturally curious and soon, I took it upon myself to learn as much as I could about the condition. With time, I came to learn that there were many other types of schizophrenia including but not limited to catatonic-type schizophrenia and disorganized-type schizophrenia. I also came to learn of the suffering those diagnosed with the condition went through especially given the society's indifference towards the same. I was slowly becoming an 'expert' in clinical psychology. My journey towards becoming a clinical psychologist had effectively begun!

A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. My journey towards becoming a clinical psychologist began when I was 12 years old - after my interest in psychology was stirred by my reading of various texts on schizophrenia. Completing an M.A. In General Psychology will be an important part of that journey. Indeed, my graduate studies are part of my short-term plans. In the short-run, I also plan to gain practical experience in the clinical psychology field by working as a consultant in a medium sized hospital. In the long-run, a doctoral degree in psychology will come in handy as I seek to reach my full potential as a clinical psychologist. After attaining the said doctoral degree, I would wish to work in an outpatient mental health center. Further, I intend to acquire a teaching position in any of the nation's numerous universities offering psychology and related programs. Working in an academic setting will offer me a unique opportunity to grow as a professional while making significant contributions to the field of psychology through continued research.

In addition to being creative, I am also an effective communicator. I also have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. I believe that as an effective communicator, I will be able to relate relatively well with clients and their families. I will also get to put my creativity to work in the development of treatment approaches. My insatiable thirst for knowledge could see me further enhance my professional abilities in this particular field.