Mature at 23, I am a Sri Lankan woman who immigrated to Melbourne Australia in 1994. I have become mostly Australian since I immigrated as a child; yet I am fascinated by my ethnicity and the immigrant experience. I am convinced that the field of Psychology in Australia has much to offer to the immigrant experience, especially as far as immigrant families often face enormous psychological challenges, language barriers, and adjusting to new cultural norms, difficulties with government bureaucracy, and a tendency to internalize their status as inferior members of society, to name a few.
It is here at this intersection of psychology and cultural identity/immigrant issues that I hope to make my major contribution to my chosen field. I am interested in studying a great deal more about the entire range of psychological issues, especially as they are relevant to Australian and Sri Lankan societies. I like to think that Sri Lankans are an especially serious and dedicated people and that by struggling every day to make a valuable contribution to my societies, that I will be able to reflect well on my nation of origin and its people.
I completed my B.S. degree in Psychology at XXX University in XXX and I wish to continue my education at XXX University because I am so incredibly happy here, and I feel most comfortable studying in this environment. It is important that I study at a graduate level where I have already learned to feel comfortable since this will provide me with the optimal environment for making the most of my studies. I am especially interested in doing graduate work in Clinical and Behavioral Psychology. I am fascinated by how people's personalities and experiences affect the way they think and react to situations. I am especially drawn to clinical psychology, I think, because I am a compassionate person and I hope to build a long and distinguished career helping others who suffer. I have enjoyed my studies of psychology so far, especially the various disorders in the DSM4 and distinguishing between two or more disorders and the challenges involved in such tasks.
I hope to be successful in studying psychology on the graduate level and in the future become a registered Clinical/Behavioral Psychologist working in a hospital with trauma patients or in a clinic. I would very much appreciate the opportunity at some point in my career to work with other Tamil speakers, since I speak and read the language fluently and I see it as part of my valuable heritage. I have many characteristics that make me a suitable candidate for postgraduate study, especially the will and intense interest to make my goals a reality. I have extensive volunteer experience assisting those recovering from mental illness to become more active and productive members of the community.
I am very resilient because of my life experiences, especially the death of my father at the age of seven and the difficult move and adjustment to Australia that soon followed. I had to learn a new language, become accustomed to a new culture, and being the eldest child begin working incredibly early on to help my widowed mother. I now look forward to a long and productive life helping others to deal with traumatic life experiences.
I want to thank you for your consideration of my application to your program.
Personal Statement for Psychology Certificate