One year ago, the dream of practicing psychology brought me from Taiwan to study Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) in the United States. I changed my life path and quit my teaching career which I had established for 10 years. Studying in CMHC has broadened my horizons and strengthened my desire to go further into Clinical Psychology. Research experience in trauma and practicum experience at Neuropsychology Clinic of Center for Neurobehavioral Health (CNBH) at SUNY Plattsburgh reinforced my determination to become a clinical psychologist. This path will fulfill my dream to research, teach and practice in the future. Current practicum experience at Neuropsychology Clinic of CNBH motivated me to pursue a degree in Clinical Psychology. Having …show more content…
Beginning in the January 2015, I will be completing a research apprenticeship under the direction of Dr. Jessica Paxton, Assistant Professor of Psychology. Due to my passion for research and eagerness to begin contributing to the research in advance, Dr. Paxton and I have started discussing topics and procedures for research studies. Due to my enthusiasm in advance of beginning the apprenticeship, Dr. Paxton has asked me to assist her with preparing study protocols and experimental procedures to prepare for the start of data collection for a study investigating executive functioning and prospective memory in January 2015. Then, when the research apprenticeship officially begins in January, I will contribute to instructing research participants on a complex protocol requiring the administration of computerized executive control and memory tasks. I will also contribute to data management and analysis of clinical and experimental neuropsychological test data. Another component of the research apprenticeship will involve making presentations about empirical research and gaining familiarity with data analysis techniques in fMRI studies investigating executive functioning in clinical