Ohio State University Personal Statement

Working on a personal level, especially children, has always appealed to me. Whether it be babysitting, tutoring, mentoring, or volunteering I have always been involved in activities that allow me to interact with others. While attending Ohio State University I discovered some great opportunities to engage in more advanced fields and tie my passion with my major. I became Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) certified and worked with an adolescent male on the autism spectrum multiple nights a week. I worked with my advisor to create and modify a behavior plan with a rewards system to help with his social, vocational, and independence skills. The following year, I trained to become a sexual assault survivor advocate with the SARNCO organization connecting victims and their family with resources and support. I recently joined a research team, here in Milan, of PhD candidate Alice Cancer, and Professor Antonietti in studying the

I am interested in studying and working with children/adolescents focusing on either learning disabilities or mental illness. I have always worked with children and found no greater joy. As a group, they are eager to grow and change, willing to learn from a guidance and direction. I would love the option to work with professors in either the clinical child/adolescent or cognitive field who could shape and aid my research. Columbia University appears to have several professors conducting research that entices me. After examining the current studies the faculty is conducting, there are a few that appeal to my specific interests. For example, Assistant Professor Russel Romeo, and his study on pubertal maturation on the brain and behavior, Associate Professor Ann Senghas’ language acquisition and cognitive development, and Professor Naill Bolger who is studying the relationship of stress and close