Neuropsychology Personal Statement

Twenty-four million seven hundred twenty thousand minutes: That is how long the average American will spend in the workforce after high school. So finding out how you want to spend those minutes is critical. Unknowingly, in 2020, I would be entering into the most trying year of my life for myself and the whole world: The outbreak of Covid 19 stopped the world. It left scars on everything and everyone. Especially on me, he said. In 2020, at only 13 years old, I began seeing a professional to treat my anxiety and depression disorder, caused by the fear and uncertainty that was overwhelming me. I did not know that this treatment would change the entire trajectory of my life. I soon realized that I was meant to help others. Especially children

My desire to impact a child's life and development leads me to explore the paths of pediatric neuropsychology and School Psychology. Neuropsychology is a rapidly growing field with an increasing need for people in it, offering many desired pluses. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the neuropsychology field is projected to grow by 14% from 2019 - 2029. With the wave of mental health and the reconstruction of how it is viewed, psychology, more now than ever, is a needed field. As Neuropsychology grows it comes with pros and cons, some may argue that the pros, however, outweigh the cons: stable jobs and hours, competitive salaries, rewarding work, and many more. According to the American Psychology Association, more than 2 million people in the U.S. alone sustain a traumatic brain injury per year. In addition, 10.8% of Americans over the age of 65 are diagnosed with Alzheimer's or Dementia disease (Texas.gov). Encouraging the need for this job and also proving the stability of it. Secondly, the overall average salary for a Neuropsychologist is $122,928 annually according to

Children are a large part of both careers, from toddlers to pre-adulthood, they deal with both. And in dealing with children comes all of the evaluations and paperwork needed to find a conclusion on how to best help the children. Pediatric Neuropsychology and School Psychology also both work closely with medical professionals and share their research and findings. The evaluations are similar, observing the child, talking with the child, learning about them and how their brain works; then into the paperwork writing all of this down to share with families and doctors. Another stark characteristic that they have in common is emotion and personality. Both careers need to have similar traits to be successful in their jobs: empathy, problem-solving, intuition, being friendly and welcoming, good work ethic, and finally perseverance. All of these traits combined are what make those professionals good at their jobs and able to get through the long years of grueling schooling that both have in