Goals

Internship Goals

In setting goals for myself at the beginning of my internship, I tried to anticipate what might reasonably be expected of me and what those tasks would teach me. Because I also wanted to make sure my goals were attainable, I wanted to have a clear idea of how I was going to achieve them.

I didn't want to reach for anything that wasn't already within my grasp, and it didn't occur to me that something that wasn't within my reach at the beginning of my internship might be by the end. I didn't consider that if I stretched myself, I could reach farther.

With all this in mind I developed three goals:

  1. Grow in scientific understanding of factors that influence family adjustment after trauma

  2. Learn about the role of scientists and researchers in clinical research

  3. Develop collaborative skills within the scientific community

Although I felt confident in these goals, they didn't reflect my aspirations. As enthused as I was by Dr. Crum's work, the growth I sought didn't directly pertain to psychology. I wanted to embrace my ignorance, to understand what I didn't understand, and to learn from knowing I lacked understanding. I wanted to combat my tendency to deal only with the known. Although empirical science controls for the unknown, it's primary focus is nonetheless on the unknown. At the heart of scientific inquiry is the embrace of the unknown. I knew that if I was sincere in my interest in psychology, I would have to learn not only to accept the unknown but to welcome it with open arms.

Career Goals

My career goals have evolved considerably over the past two years.

When I first started college, I was plagued with uncertainty. I wasn't sure if I belonged in college, much less majoring in psychology. I had spent most my life informally studying people, but I wasn't sure that qualified me for the field of psychology.

I was also concerned that my personal interest in the field would jeopardize my professional integrity. Perhaps I don't want to help people at all. Perhaps this is a purely selfish pursuit. These fears lurked in the back of my mind.

As I began to learn about things I had seen, felt, and lived, I also started to question my objectivity. I thought that was the aim not just of science but of life—reason devoid of emotion. Painfully aware of my subjectivity, of my personal bias, all I could conclude was—this was a mistake. That was all I could think my freshman year. Psychology, college, life—all of it was a big mistake.

To everyone around me, I was excelling; to me, I was failing. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my degree, even though I could convince everyone I knew exactly what I wanted to do. No matter what I did, I could not shake that question in my mind: Is it unethical for me to pursue this field?

It felt dishonest to study something in the name of helping others when my only reason for doing it could very well be because I had failed to help the ones I wanted to most.

Some would have called it my inspiration. But I knew better. What if I am just looking for answers to my own questions? What if I don't actually care about anyone else? I was wracked by these questions. If that was true, I was a fraud.

I thought long and hard about whether I would continue studying psychology. I knew it would be an injustice and disservice to so many in need if I entered the field focusing on my own limitations and failures rather than their potential for growth and improvement.

With no small amount of trepidation and with no satisfactory answers to my questions, I started my internship in the fall. My work in the LifeRAFT lab over the past year has helped me answer many of those questions.

I realized self-interest had drawn me to the field of psychology. However, I also discovered that my heart for people sustained my interest in the field. I may not have started out with the right motives, the right ideas, or the right attitudes. I may still have much to learn, many areas to grow in, and much to discover. However, I do know that I am where I belong.

Studying psychology has and will continue to promote my development so long as I remember it is not about me; it is about us.


With that, I come to my career goals: (1) I intend to graduate college in May of 2024 with a B.S in psychology and a B.A in journalism, with a concentration in public policy. (2) I hope to attend graduate school and attain a PhD in community psychology. (3) Ultimately, I want to use my degree in community psychology to fulfill a role of advocacy within the community and influence public policy.


There is nothing I am more passionate about than people, especially people joining together. Most my life I tried to make people get along who didn't. I thought disagreement jeopardized the stability of a relationship and the fabric of society. I thought the semblance of peace was better than the reality of conflict. I have learned, though, that disagreement is not a threat; it is an opportunity. That is why I want to fulfill a role of advocacy and influence public policy. It is not easy to voice a view others oppose. It is not comfortable. But it is necessary to our growth, both individually and collectively.


Although I have yet to meet my first goal and graduate college, I can already start practicing what I am interested in pursuing. I can listen to differing views now. I can have difficult conversations now. I can serve the community now. I don't have to wait until I have reached a particular milestone, met a particular goal, or received a particular degree.


The question isn't, "Will I have opportunities?" but, "Will I avail myself of opportunities?" Will I face the unknown? Will I speak up when it would be easier to stay silent? Will I disagree when it would cost me nothing to agree? Will I hold fast to my values when tried, or will I abandon them?


The question is—what do I stand for?