Goals & Learning

My original career goal was to become a Forensic Psychologist. After this year, I am thinking of becoming a Psychiatric nurse. I am not 100% sure, but this is at least my backup plan. I plan on graduating in May of 2026 and then continuing school to get my master's degree, most likely online through Arizona State University. I hope to get a job after receiving my master's degree and eventually pursue my doctoral degree. I am very sure of this career option, and I have these goals to help me best reach my career. This year, I will take shadowing opportunities to determine if my goals fit my strengths and preferences. I also will take any task or learning opportunity given to me and do it to my greatest ability to develop my understanding and goals further. This internship has further provided me with the fact that I absolutely want to be in the Psychology field. Through more shadowing opportunities, I will become confident in exactly what I want to do.

My goals from when I submitted my application to LHSI are pretty much the same. My main two goals were to figure out exactly what I want to do with my career and shadowing opportunities as well to help with that. This summer, I will keep trying for shadowing opportunities and will start looking at Graduate schools and programs. 

Learning Goal #1: Learning how to interact with patients properly​ . 

Relevance: This goal fits into my career journey because I will work with patients my entire career, which is an excellent way to start.

Action Plan: The tasks I will complete that will fit this are shadowing opportunities​, meeting with forensic psychologists​ and general psychologists, and getting office experience​.

Progress: I have gone to a couple of groups with patients and have been in our clinic. The main difficulty I have had is getting these opportunities, but this semester, I finally did. My next steps are to keep asking for more opportunities and going to them.

Learning Goal #2: Learning proper research methods​.

Relevance: This goal fits into my career journey because research will be the foundation of most of my career, so it is a good idea to prepare for it and learn it now.​

Action Plan: The tasks I will complete that will fit this are ​​CITI Training​, ​​Practical Training​, and Learning Investigative Technologies (IMT or R34​).

Progress: I have completed these trainings and have used what I have learned on projects and work they have given me. I didn't really have any difficulties. My next steps are to keep using these skills for future projects and classes.

Learning Goal #3: Learning more about data capture systems​.

Relevance: This goal fits into my career journey because I have never used many of these before and will need them in my career. This will help me have previous experience and knowledge with these websites. 

Action Plan: The projects I will complete that will fit this are Excel​, Redcap​, and ​​SPSF​.

Progress: I have done data input and have pulled data for my big project to look at and compare. The main difficulty I have had is learning to use new softwares. My next steps are to keep using these softwares for future projects and classes.