Statement of Purpose, Creative Essay Example

A great man once said, “Find a job that you love to do, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” While I have known this old adage since I was a little girl, I only realized how true it was when I became an adult. I relate the experiences in between those times in the succeeding paragraphs, leading to the substantiation of my profound intention to undertake doctorate studies in Clinical Psychology at your esteemed institution.

Like many people in their youths, I took up my undergraduate course of Political Science more out of blind interest than contemplated direction. I was very active in my high school during debates and discussions about government, so I figured that it would be nice to study more about government and politics during the succeeding stage of my education. Unfortunately, I was not able to enjoy my Bachelor’s degree as much as I would have wanted. This was primarily because my mother, who had underwent treatments for breast cancer, fell out of remission while I was away in Seattle studying. It was very difficult for me to concentrate on anything knowing that mom was suffering intensely. There were times that instead of taking on the required readings on the works of Foucault or Derrida, I would stay up late at night reading on breast cancer and what people having breast cancer undergo. It was here that I was first formally introduced to the world of psychology, through a book by Keitel and Kopala on how to help women with breast cancer through counseling. I was deeply intrigued with the material, and immediately, I felt a connection with the psychology profession. However, the practicality of changing majors at the middle of the proverbial stream did not seem practical to me. So I continued to pursue my degree in Political Science, but realized that I had to transfer back to California from Washington so that I can be nearer to my mother and be more at ease with my university work. Things became better after I transferred. I was able to tend to my mother and my grades improved. I applied some of the things I learned from Keitel and Kopala, such as just listening to my mother as she talked about her diseases and how it is affecting her, being that patient ear who wants to hear what it feels like to be in her position and empathize. I felt very good applying those principles, and I could see them work in my mother. Nevertheless, as soon as I finished my degree, I went to work in the lending industry which was the family business. This was where the adage that I shared in my introduction hit me. Working 8 hours in a desk job as a loan agent, basically filling form after form and answering customer queries with standard responses throughout those hours was simply not for me. I longed for more interaction with people. My experience with helping my mother infused me with the desire to interact with and listen to people and somehow help them through their concerns. However, I still did not think that taking on further studies was a good idea since I had already finished a college degree. Thus, I went into sales, particularly in the real estate department. In this new job, I was able to exercise my communication and interaction skills more freely, and found myself reading books on psychology again, this time on the art of persuasion. Being a realtor was enjoyable, as it enabled me to interact with different people who have different concerns, and they somehow counted on me to help them through those decisions. However, I still felt that something was missing in the career that I was pursuing. My thoughts kept coming back to my talks with my mother, in which a counseling book helped me understand why she was saying what she was saying, and gave me insights on what to say and what not to say in order to make her feel her best. I realized that while sales and psychology are very much related, my calling in that field was not to convince people to buy things, but to help them understand themselves and feel better. It was then that I realized that I would not be able to pursue my true vocation if I was so caught up with the idea that taking on new studies was impractical. I realized as well that until that time, I had not contemplated enough about what I truly wanted to do with the rest of my life, and so having done so, I should pursue the necessary studies to be able to become what I want to be.

And so, I left my job as a realtor and took a less demanding job as a publishing assistant in order to give me time to prepare and enroll for a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. My experience in the graduate school was very, very different from my experience during my undergraduate years. While I was studying political science, I was interested in what I was reading about and how they were applied, but I never thought of myself becoming a political analyst or a government official and actually applying what I learned. In the subjects that I took in Clinical Psychology, the content came alive in my mind, and I could actually see myself applying the principles and procedures discussed in class. It was not just the nature of those subjects that enabled me to visualize their application, but my affinity towards their application; the feeling that I belong to this profession. On an even more personal level, the Clinical Psychology program that I am currently on the verge of completing has also helped me though many of the issues that I did not even realize I had. Working with therapists in the program helped me resolve those issues, and now I am eager to be able to share that same expertise with others. Currently, I am working as a trainee at the Salvation Army Hospitality House conducting group and one-on-one counseling. I also conduct volunteer work at the Santa Barbara Cancer Association. These jobs are much more than the previous ones that I have had. They are more than just a list of responsibilities that I have to do every day, they are a calling. In doing these jobs, I feel like I am where I should be, that I am doing the things that define my personality and my personhood. At the hospitality house, I lead sessions of 4 to 5 clients, with demographics including substance abuse, homelessness, and battering history. In the neighborhood clinics where I had also been a trainee, I worked with clients dealing with ptsd, substance abuse trauma, and income insecurity. Working with these people infused me with a sense of completeness. Seeing them understand more about what they are going though, about themselves, and about the options available to them. Seeing them rebuild their hope where there was none, and feeling better about themselves and their future, made my day. Having found my true calling in life, it is only natural that I seek further development in my field, and this is why I have decided to pursue even higher studies in Clinical Psychology.

A PhD in Clinical Psychology is not just a title that I wish to obtain. Much more than this, it is an education that I am passionately hoping to experience. As I complete the requirements for my MA in Clinical Psychology program, I know that there are much more things for me to learn, especially in the area of Clinical Psychology research, which I have only been introduced to in the Master’s level. Working in the Hospitality House and the Cancer center has opened my eyes on various issues that I believe can be best addressed by research-based solutions, and I am confident that my training and development in Clinical Psychology can enable me to contribute in finding such solutions with the proper guidance. At this point in my life, what I aspire for more than anything else is to become better in my profession and to focus on a particular specialization. I believe that in undertaking a PhD, I will be able to determine what specialization best suits me. At the moment, my training and volunteer work has enabled me to develop keen interests in two particular areas of specialization, which are clinical psychology as applied to substance abuses or adolescents. I wish to continue working in settings that are closely tied to the community, and eventually at rehabilitation centers for youths or domestic violence victims. I hope that by undergoing a PhD program, I will be able to more accurately discern my vision as a clinical psychologist for the next decades and for the rest of my career.

Thus, it is with the utmost conviction that I state my purpose of undertaking a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology. I firmly believe that my current education and experience in the field has more than adequately prepared me for undertaking further studies, and that taking on these further studies will enable me to become a better professional and empower me to serve my clients at a greater capacity. Truly, I have found the job that I love, and truly, despite all of the challenges associated in the daily execution of a clinical psychologist’s responsibilities, loving the job does make the work not seem like work at all. I hope that through this statement of purpose, I was able to show you the sincerity of my intentions and my potential to do great things with the knowledge and expertise that I can gain from your prestigious doctorate program.