Description
Personal info to use (this is form my college essay so it must be changed)As a child of immigrants and sister of an addict, I have always been interested in individuals and society. My sister and I have the same DNA and were raised with the same values – why did she start using drugs while I was spared the same fate? Was it because her early years were marked by frequent moves to different countries (Israel and Australia) while I was fortunate to be raised in a more stable environment in the U.S.? Was it due to her friend group? Was it just luck? As a high school Junior I took my first psychology class and as we delved into the intricate workings of the human brain and the chemicals and processes that shape our physical and sometimes emotional lives, I was hooked. I was able to begin to understand more of the ways that the brain influences personality, mood, and behavior. I learned of the importance of social and familial influences. The day I completed my first Sociology class in community college, I knew that I had found my calling. The field synthesized my diverse interests and goals– one that drew directly upon my innate strengths and personal experiences. Most importantly, I saw the power that social psychology has to profoundly shape the lives of real people, by striving to create a just and more equitable world, and to build institutions that fulfill our highest collective and individual purpose and potential. Through this volunteer work, I came to learn about the importance of community engagement, communication skills, patience, gratitude and perspective. Helping others has had the unintended benefit of helping me feel more capable in my own life, giving me the confidence to help individuals and society as a professional .–I think of Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) as family coaches. Families can have varied compositions and unique dynamics. They may be composed of two people or dozens. MFTs are mental health professionals who specialize in helping families with their communication patterns, emotional connections, and in the case of my family, their dysfunction. Now in recovery, my sister struggled with opioid addiction. She saw many drug treatment counselors as part of her recovery, and my parents and I participated in numerous family sessions. I remember feeling that the therapists (some of whom I imagine were MFTs) created a safe space for me to share my feelings. I was encouraged to be vulnerable and explore the root causes of my sister’s addiction, my feelings about it, and how her troubles impacted my life. We talked a lot about effective communication and how I could share my thoughts, emotions, and needs clearly with my sister and parents. The role play sessions we had are embedded in my memory, and I remember thinking at the time that I might one day be able to help families the way the counselors were helping mine. While the counselors we saw as a family and the one I saw individually never gave advice, they offered tools and strategies to address the challenges we were facing. They taught me how to cope with stress and encouraged me to keep a journal to process my feelings, a tool which I still use for problem solving. My biggest take away from my sister’s treatment is that effective communication is essential. I want to learn to listen intently, and be able to modify my communication style in response to people’s specific needs. I want to start where the client is and help them meet goals and achieve dreams. It’s my turn to pay it forward.One of the things about inner strength is that you often don’t realize how much you have until you need it.