Got the position.
Well essentially. I start training for it Jan. 21st (or at least that's when the next training session starts, so I assume I'm starting then).
The whole organization is pretty awesome. It's whole purpose is to give resources to parents e.g. someone to talk to, information about finding jobs, classes etc. And it's all centered around the hotline which I'll be working on.
So essentially I'll be sitting at a phone and computer for a 4 hour shift and taking calls. Doing everything from giving them websites or organizations to go to for jobs or making friends to just listening to their problems.
I'm really excited because this is a fairly well established and well know organization. A couple of excellent grad schools in the area send students there to get trained. Since I'm looking to use this to make me stand out to grad schools, that makes it extra appealing.
I guess while I'm on the topic I should explain the grad school thing. The past year has convinced me I would enjoy and do a lot of good as a therapist or even a psych researcher. So I'm looking to get either a PsyD or PhD.
However, since I have effectively 0 background in psych I've got some work to do before I can even apply. First goal was to get the 5 classes I've been told I need for grad school
Stats (got it at Hampshire, but I should probably retake it)
Developmental psych
Theories of personality (Taking these two starting Jan 25th)
Abnormal psych (finishing this up now)
And an intro psych class, I'll probably do positive psychology or something. Abnormal psych so far has been really really interesting so I'm very excited about the upcoming classes.
In addition to all that I realized needed some experience both to convince grad schools and to convince myself that this is what I want/need to do. Originally I was hoping for the suicide hotline but they turned me down and fortunately in some ways this organization may even be better (what with the training grad students).
So yeah I'm stoked. Here's hoping I make it through the training since I know it'll involve a lot of things I dislike, like role playing. I'll try and keep you folks updated.
The whole organization is pretty awesome. It's whole purpose is to give resources to parents e.g. someone to talk to, information about finding jobs, classes etc. And it's all centered around the hotline which I'll be working on.
So essentially I'll be sitting at a phone and computer for a 4 hour shift and taking calls. Doing everything from giving them websites or organizations to go to for jobs or making friends to just listening to their problems.
I'm really excited because this is a fairly well established and well know organization. A couple of excellent grad schools in the area send students there to get trained. Since I'm looking to use this to make me stand out to grad schools, that makes it extra appealing.
I guess while I'm on the topic I should explain the grad school thing. The past year has convinced me I would enjoy and do a lot of good as a therapist or even a psych researcher. So I'm looking to get either a PsyD or PhD.
However, since I have effectively 0 background in psych I've got some work to do before I can even apply. First goal was to get the 5 classes I've been told I need for grad school
Stats (got it at Hampshire, but I should probably retake it)
Developmental psych
Theories of personality (Taking these two starting Jan 25th)
Abnormal psych (finishing this up now)
And an intro psych class, I'll probably do positive psychology or something. Abnormal psych so far has been really really interesting so I'm very excited about the upcoming classes.
In addition to all that I realized needed some experience both to convince grad schools and to convince myself that this is what I want/need to do. Originally I was hoping for the suicide hotline but they turned me down and fortunately in some ways this organization may even be better (what with the training grad students).
So yeah I'm stoked. Here's hoping I make it through the training since I know it'll involve a lot of things I dislike, like role playing. I'll try and keep you folks updated.