Dear incoming psychology students,

In kindergarten, my teacher asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. To this, most of the kids responded with, “a firefighter”, “a princess”, etc. My response was simple, “a psychologist” – which was followed by a prompt phone call to my parents. My whole life, I’ve known that psychology is my passion but even now, when asked specifically I want to do, I am stumped… and that’s ok.  You don’t need to have all the answers or know exactly what you want to do, as long as you start somewhere and keep moving forward. As you advance in your studies, you will learn an immense amount about yourself, your dislikes and your greatest passions.

My best advice is to ask the ‘dumb’ questions (there are no dumb questions!); utilize professor’s office hours and don’t shy away from asking for help. Even if you don’t need help, you will come away knowing more than you did. Networking is essential – if you work hard and put in effort, people will notice and be more inclined to support you in the future. The people you meet now, may be the reason you get a job later. Study proficiently – studying is an art, put real effort into finding a system that works for you, and continuously hone your skill.

In my earlier years, I would shy away and avoid the topics that I found difficult – this is my biggest regret. I would ‘get through’ those classes, with relief when they were over. As your years in psych progress, you will find that every year builds upon the last and if you simply ‘got through’ classes or topics, you will be at a detriment. When you find something difficult, face it head on and learn it.

If you defy your comfort zone you will make lifelong friendships, find excellent mentors and set yourself up for academic and professional success – have fun and ‘enjoy the ride’!

A. Campbell