PsychologyPersonalStatementIfirstrealisedIwantedtostudyPsychologywhenstudyingDrama,becauseinordertoportraycharactersIhadtounderstandtheirmindanddeveloptheirpersonality.Ifoundthedifferencesincharactersweresovastthatitmademewanttounderstandthesevariations.SincebeginningthecourseinCollegeIhavebeentrulycaptivatedbyallareasofpsychologicaltheoryandresearch,andameagertocontributetotheunderstandingwehaveaboutthebehaviourofhumanandnon-humananimals.Inparticular,IamfascinatedbythefundamentaldebatesinPsychology,forexamplethenaturenurturedebate.AForensicandInvestigativePsychologyconferenceIattended,presentedbyProfessorDavidCanter,caughtmyattentionasIfounditintriguingthatpeoplecanbehaveinsuchawaythatwilloffendothersandoftenfeellittleornoremorse.Afterreadinghisbook,"MappingMurder",myinterestinabnormalityandpsychopathologyrapidlyincreased,ashisbookandconferenceallowedmetounderstandthepsychologybehindthistypeofbehaviour,amplifyingmyinterestinthesubject.Ienjoyreadingaboutdifferentstudiesthathavebeenconductedinthepast,whichIcananalyseandevaluatetoobtainamoreadvancedunderstandingofbehavioursexhibited.Asapeermentor,myjobwastoattendtotheneedsofyoungerormorevulnerablestudentsandtoofferthemfullsupport.Thisjobrequirespatienceandcompassion,alongwithwillingnesstohelpandmotivateothers.Ihavereceivedcertificatesandawardsforgoodbehaviour,attendance,punctualityandperformingarts,demonstratingmyenthusiasmineverythingIdo.Myworkexperienceintheretailindustryhasgivenmethechancetodevelopcriticalskillswhichareessentialsuchas;goodcommunicationwithothers,astrongdeterminationtoachievemybestanddedicationtoallworkIundertake.AsanA2Psychologystudent,IreceivedtheStudentoftheMonthawardformyoutstandingenthusiasm,effortandachievement.Drama&TheatreStudieshasgivenmeanalternativeperceptionofhumanbehaviour,theintensityofemotionsandthevariationsinherentinthat.MusicTechnologyhashelpedmedevelopmyanalyticalandconcentrationskills.IamalsoamemberoftheStudentCouncil,whereIrepresentmyfellowstudentsandhaveagreatresponsibilitytoensurethattheirviewsareheardandactedupon.Ienjoyreadingarangeofbooksfromnovelstobiographiesaswellasbookstosupportmyacademicstudies.CurrentlyIamreading"TheSelfishGene"byRichardDawkinstosupportmyunderstandingofEvolutionaryPsychology.Ifinditfascinatingthatnaturalandsexualselectioncanprovideultimateexplanationsforthebehaviourofanimals,includinghumans.Ialsoenjoysports,suchasswimming,cricket,tennisandhockey,resultinginmycompetitivenatureanddesiretosucceed.IhavehadavarietyofparttimejobsinwhichIhavehadtoworkwiththepublicandsatisfytheirneedswhilstworkingunderpressuretocompleteassortedtasks.AlthoughIamlookingforwardtogoingtouniversity,IhavedecidedtotakeagapyearandhopefullyattendCampAmerica,whereIwouldworkwithyoungpeopleasaCounsellor,ensuringtheirhealthandsafety,andkeepingthementertained.MyrolewilldependonmyabilitytohavestrongauthoritybutalsoanapproachablemanneratalltimesandIamconfidentIcancarryouttherolewiththeutmostprofessionalism.IameagertostudyPsychologyinasmuchdepthaspossible,andIintendtopractiseacareerinthefieldsIamparticularlyinterestedin-ClinicalandPathologicalPsychology.IbelievethatIwillmakeanoutstandingundergraduatewhowillappreciatehavingtheopportunitytostudyandexpandmyknowledgeinareputablelearningenvironment.
