Major: Psychology
What is your current position/career? What are your plans beyond where you are now?
My current position is as a Medical Assistant at a concierge medical practice in Newbury Park. It’s very hands-on in terms of patient care and I work directly under the main physician there. I am learning so much! In this past year, I have also spent time volunteering on the ambulances in LA County and the ER at UCLA Westwood. I received my EMT certification from UCLA last summer. My ultimate plan is to attend medical school in the Fall of 2025. I am currently preparing my applications to be submitted this summer.
How did Cal Lutheran and/or your psychology program set you up for success in this position/career?
The Psychology major gave me so much context for treating people well. Most people have the common sense to be kind to others and things like that. However, there’s a lot of science behind what actions and considerations go behind making others feel loved and accepted. Ultimately, we are all different people, but we have the same desire to feel a sense of belonging and loved by others. In patient care, being able to use that knowledge every day allowed me to reach people more intimately and provide better care to them. I also know that having this background in Psychology will make me a better doctor who remains in tune with her patients. This is all thanks to the amazing Psychology Department at Cal Lutheran!
How did Cal Lutheran and/or your pre-med program set you up for success in this position/career?
The Cal Lutheran Pre-Med track provided a solid background of information that I could depend on and use at work. Even my Biology emphasis within my major gave me more classes to choose from that still counted towards my degree but stretched the typical bounds of Psychology majors. As a lover of science, being able to take classes such as Human Anatomy Genetics, and Chemistry within my major was pretty awesome. It was more worth it, since it counted directly towards my degree/Pre-Med, and also gave me great backing for entering the medical field this year. I know I will continue to use this knowledge until medical school, and even once I start medical school.
What skills or proficiencies did you acquire at Cal Lutheran, through your studies or other activities, that you now use in your current position/career?
Cal Lutheran provided me with so many avenues to gain valuable skills and experience for the future. Whether it was being a club leader participating and presenting funded research to the public or being a DA/tutor, I have grown so much and it all comes from the amazing Cal Lutheran community and resources. The research experience stood out to me. Cal Lutheran’s support of student-led research is so unique and valued. Without this, I don’t know that I would have pursued this research, gained the incredible mentorship that I did, and had the opportunity to be an author on two publications before going to graduate school. This opportunity also illuminated my love for research, especially when combined with themes within the realm of Psychology. Although I am not in a research position now, it is important to be aware of the biases that occur towards those of certain backgrounds, because, from a psychological perspective, these can be occurring anywhere. I will bring this knowledge from my and Dr. ElBassiouny’s research into my future career as a physician, and in my experiences until I begin school.
In general, what were some of your favorite aspects of the psychology program? Such as research, classes, professors, etc.
My experience in the Psychology program was nothing but positive. The faculty were incredible and were devoted to furthering student learning and passion for the subjects they taught. Highlights for me included the publication of my Social Psychology research under Dr. Amanda ElBassiouny in the Journal of Integrated Social Sciences last year. This process was grueling and long, but well worth it. Working with her in the research field was exciting and fun, and I’m thankful to continue to have her mentorship and friendship even now. There wasn’t a class I didn’t enjoy in Psychology (no, I’m not lying!) but even in the harder moments, the faculty were so present and encouraging. Lastly, being a Psychology DA in my senior year was a fantastic experience. It demonstrated to me my love for tutoring and teaching, which I hadn’t tapped into until then, and it brought me closer to the Department itself. Being so involved in the Psychology Department in my final months of undergrad was a great way to end my college experience.
What research and presentations have you done at Cal Lutheran? How has that opened the door for more opportunities?
At Cal Lutheran, I performed research in the Psychology Department under Dr. Amanda ElBassiouny two different times. The first research we did was in the SURF program through Cal Lutheran – which funded my research in the summertime! It was amazing! That study focused on how pre-existing biases of jurors impact the decisions that are made for defendants in the courtroom, especially focusing on defendants of minority racial/ethnic groups and religions. The findings are extensive and interesting. I’ll include the citation below, this being the research that we got published last year. I have presented this research a few times on campus – at the Festival of Scholars in the Fall and Spring, at the President’s inauguration ceremony, and to a board of faculty members immediately after its completion in the summertime after my sophomore year. I am so proud of this work. I am thankful for Dr. ElBassiouny’s expertise and the time she dedicated to mentoring me in that entire process!