My Journey in Psychology (continued...)

Following my volunteering experience with AGE UK and Headway (The Brain Injury Association), I was in a position to conclude that I wanted to pursue a career within the mental health sector. I was aware that becoming a clinical psychologist is a VERY long process, and I'd have to put in a lot of hard work to secure a place on the DClinPsy. I was apprehensive and unsure, but I wasn't willing to give up my passion for Psychology. I decided to have a conversation with my family who were very supportive and understanding. My parents gave me a piece of vital advice, which will stay with me for the rest of my life. They said: "You should do what your heart tells you to. Don't be afraid of what people will say, follow your passion". I knew then, that I had to be brave and continue with building a career in Psychology. I felt courageous.

Two days prior to applying for a Master's in Clinical Psychology, I had a rethink. In all honesty, I wasn't sure if I had the skillset to become a clinical psychologist. What do you call it? Ah, Imposter Syndrome. I spent the next couple of days worrying and doubting myself excessively. I felt stuck. I was scared of choosing a course, only to be left jobless at the end. The following week, I started considering other options within the mental health and social health sector, and my well-being improved. It was then that Social Work crossed my mind. I researched the job profile and after a lot of careful consideration, decided to apply for an MSW at the University of Edinburgh. The application was sent off, and I patiently waited for my acceptance offer.

By then, I had made peace with Psychology and was looking forward to starting a career in Social Work. However, my optimism didn't last long. You know when you get those emails, and you swipe down to read from the notification bar before opening the actual email? Yeah, well, one afternoon, I received an email from the University of Edinburgh, and I knew instantly it wasn't what I wanted to see. The first words that I saw in the notification bar was: "unfortunately" and unsuccessful". I pieced it together. I hadn't made it into the university. That was the first day that I had to deal with rejection. It took me a while to process the information and rebuild my strength. When I first heard the news, I Whatsapped my friend Tahseen (who I've known since uni). She knew exactly how I was feeling and reassured me that if I had lost something, it was only to gain something better. And, my girl was right!

Being a firm believer, I knew that God was working miracles in my life. Maybe I had been unsuccessful with my uni application for Social Work, only to be redirected onto the path of Psychology. I trusted God and his plans. In September 2023, I was invited for an interview with Bangor University to study Master's in Clinical and Health Psychology. The interview was terrifying, and I thought that I had messed it up. But No! I was successful. YAYYYY!! With a mixture of excitement, joy, nervousness, and homesickness, I travelled all the way to North Wales (beautiful hills, countryside, the mountains, the sea, and sunsets) for the next chapter of my life.

Whilst undertaking my Master's, I was mindful to use every opportunity that I have to gain relevant experience. Although I had to deal with rejections whilst initially applying for part-time jobs, I was in a better frame of mind to accept rejection, and to not give up. Working part-time in a care home has been an incredible opportunity to build relationships and gain valuable experience of working with vulnerable people. Recently, I was successful for the role of a ChildLine counsellor with NSPCC. This will be an invaluable opportunity for me to gain experience working with children going through emotional/physical/sexual abuse and neglect. For aspiring clinical psych students/grads, my advice would be to soak in as much experience as you can! It will be key stepping stones to securing that place on the much coveted doctorate!

I have 3 months of my course left to complete, and I can proudly say that 9 months ago, I made one of the best decisions of my life. Being a postgraduate student has not been easy, that's for sure, and living in a shared accommodation has also had its highs and lows. But, it has been a fun ride! I am nowhere near to becoming a clinical psychologist. I still have to secure a job in the NHS as either a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, Assistant Psychologist, or Research Assistant, work for a minimum of 2 years, gain experience, and then hopefully apply for the DClinPsy. So, as to what I'll be doing after uni, well, you'll have to wait and see!

P.S. I promise my next blog won't be about Psychology