ISM Personal Statement

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The Reedy Independent Study and Mentorship (ISM) Program is a course that provides students many opportunities to learn and discover what different aspects of a career field is like. Students in this course have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a mentor and do research in their interested field before entering college. I, as someone who knows what career they want to pursue, would love to take advantage of this opportunity. I am fit for ISM because I am very passionate about this field for many reasons. My dad used to be a cop, so if I have any questions about forensics, I know someone, who I almost always have access to, to answer with direct experience, as well as I know people who are already in the psychology field. Another reason …show more content…

This way, if I am missing a quality, I can work on developing it so I can be successful once I get a Ph.D. and graduate from college, and I will already know what to expect and the daily routine is familiar to me. To be specific, I would like to learn how psychologists do certain aspects of their job, such as mental state examinations of criminal defendants, as well as the ethical and moral issues that many forensic psychologists have to battle with during a case or with a client. If I were to learn about these issues, I can better handle them when I come across them, and with less controversy. Another facet I would like to study is custody cases, and how different aspects of a parent’s life affect their eligibility. One final element I am curious about is how initiative applies to forensic psychology. To me, initiative means to not be afraid to stand up and take charge when everyone else is afraid to. Initiative can also mean to stand up for oneself and to do activities independently, or without help. Taking initiative is important because someone who speaks out first can have more opportunities in what they are