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One of the interests that I have is in helping victims of childhood sexual abuse. I became interested in this area by accident. As a middle-school child, I had a friend express suicidal ideations to me and relayed them to my parent. The friend’s parents got them into a treatment program, but also removed them from our school. Feeling as if I had betrayed their confidence, the friend ended communication with me. It was years later, in an unrelated way, that I learned that there were several warning signs of childhood sexual abuse in their home. When I reconnected with that friend, those suspicions were confirmed. Knowing that being a victim of that abuse almost led to a friend’s death, I have become passionate about taking steps to help end childhood sexual abuse.
However, this passion is not related to the career I want to pursue or to my chosen field of study. Therefore, it may be difficult to see how attending a tertiary institution is linked to that passion. It was not that long ago that Freud’s reports that many of his female patients were discussing their own molestation as children, often by their fathers, were considered so outrageous that they could not be true. In fact, he even changed his theories to fit the prevailing social norms of the time, suggesting that these women were actually fantasizing about sex with their fathers rather than reporting actual abuse. Social norms have changed dramatically in many parts of society, but not in all pockets and cultures. It is well-established that people who obtain a higher education tend to be more liberal and progressive with an eye on social change. Education helps contradict some of the incorrect information and assumptions that we all learn as we grow-up and tertiary institutions are surrounded by opportunities to get involved in social justice issues. I hope to connect with volunteer organizations that can allow me to devote time to this passion, while still pursuing my educational and career goals.
