For those of you who are looking to pursue the field of psychology, this is the post for you!
This past week, I've been in Washington DC with two of my close friends attending the American Psychological Association Annual Convention (http://www.apa.org/convention/). On the first day, I presented my research on the breakdown of a pride display and then spent the rest of the week learning from great minds, visiting the sites, meeting new people, and catching up with old friends.
This is now the second psychological convention I have attended and presented research at, something I would highly recommend to everyone! Even if you're not presenting at a conference of interest, I still suggest going because the knowledge base you can obtain in just a few days is incredible! Conferences, at least for psychology, are where we as psychologists (or psychologists in training) learn the most current and hot research as well as have the opportunity to collaborate and expand network bases.
Though I thoroughly enjoyed the conference, I find it imperative to list my top three moments:
1. Met Philip ZImbardo and opened communication to apply as a researcher for him upon graduation
This name is most notoriously associated with the Stanford Prison Experiment, a piece of psychological research that has taught us many lessons of human nature and been viewed as one of the most unethical experiments ever conducted (see link for info).
Prior to meeting Zimbardo, I did not have respect for him as a person because I viewed him as a man with spotty ethics because I could never see how a researcher could put people through such a traumatic study and just watch! However, after hearing Phil speak, I quickly became a fan. Not only did he acknowledge his wrongful actions, he had the experiment idea passed through several committees, and has pursued work to help others understand the evils of human nature and find (and makes known) the joys of heroism.
(Zimmy: http://www.zimbardo.com/)
(Heroic Imagination project: http://heroicimagination.ning.com/)
(Stanford prison experiment: http://www.prisonexp.org/)
2. Was offered an opportunity to come to Boston in the next year and be trained to work with sex trafficked victims through the organization My Life, My Choice.
For those of you that know my end goal, you will recall that I want to work with sex trafficked victims to help them fight their trauma and combat human trafficking on the whole. While at the convention, I met survival mentor Audrey Porter, the Assistant Director and the Coordinator of Survivor Services of The My Life My Choice Project.
I lingered around after her symposium to thank her for standing up for millions and directly helping hundreds of trafficked victims. She asked how I became involved with combatting trafficking and upon hearing how long I've been passionate, she hugged me and asked me to e-mail her and come to Boston to be trained with clinical psychologists on how to treat victims of sex trafficking. This is why I am pursuing a Ph.D., so this opportunity is one that I'm sure will be an integral part component to my psychology career path.
(http://www.jri.org/mylife/)
3. Learning more about psychology as a whole!
Philip Zimbardo (Stanford Prison Experiment) and Claude Steele (Provost of Columbia U.)
Victoria and I with Zimbardo!
Talking with Zimbardo about being a research assistant with him after graduation from DU...WOW! The possibility of working with THE psychology celebrity of research, FANTASTIC!!!!!
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So conferences are fantastic; however, when with great friends, it is a mandate to experience at least a small part of the town in which the convention is held!
For starters, I had two fabulous friends fly all the way to DC with me to be my support system and conference with me (talk about great friends)! Victoria, Jayne, and I would get in he routine of highlighting all posters, symposia, and film we wanted to see in our convention book the night prior, and then contemplate how to utilize our free time in DC.
Half of the conference we spent in the convention center almost all day, but we stole away at night. We would visit the sites, watch people (surprise), and just enjoy a long relaxing dinner (something none of us do when at DU). Though not a typical vacation, the three of us networked, learned a great deal of information, and had a blast being together...I can't imagine a better week!
The ladies and I out on the town
Yes, we are part of the Kennedy Family
Making an imperative address to the people!
Laughing with Abe!
As always, my blog is open and I would love to be a resource for you. Feel free to comment or ask questions (about psych, DU, college in general, etc.) and I will get back to you within a week!
