~ll'l} m<\.iors on campus required students to ·ompletc il11 intanship \\itbiJ1 their respective can•er lidd. S111dC'nts in tlw department of ps, gy. howev~r. had a new oplion of taking a field experience class to count as an internship. The opportunity allowed them to work with various agencies or organizations to fit their individual interests. "Graduate schools have a real interest in the fact that our students have had some degree of experience in the field," Katherine Howard, director of the pyschology department, said. "We encourage it because it helps students focus on a specific area that they are interested in." The students who decided to participate in the internship met with Howard to decide which agency best fit their future plans in the field. Once a decision was made, students were required to complete 128 hours of work over the course of the semester. Senior Candace Garcia interned at Hope Cottage, a safe shelter for victims of domestic abuse, where she assisted victims and filled out reports. "I didn't know domestic violence is such a prevalent thing," Garcia said. "Getting to hear about women's Senior Ali jewell works with elementary students at Kensett Elementary School on Nov. 3.Jewell met with kindergarten, second, third and sixth grade students at the elementary school twice a week throughout the semester as part of her field placement course. Ashel Parsons experiences is just heartbreaking." Throughout the semester, students kept dailyjournals of what they were learning, to be turned in at the end of the semester. "I was a little bored [writing it] at the beginning, but reading back over it at the end made me realize there was so much tl1at I learned," seniorJoseph Magness said. Magness added that his experience provided him with a deeper connection to humanity in general, allowing him to sympathize more easily with those whom he helped. "The internship was a lot more than I expected," Magness said. "Seeing some of the situations, you can't help but be sorry for people. It gives the person who has had that experience the ability to empathize with people, identify with where they're at and try to help them along that course." More than anything else, students who took the course were reminded of the core reasons for entering the psychology field in the first place. It caused them to reflect on their true passion: helping people. "I know that this is where I should be," Garcia said. Mallory Davis Pointing to his temporal lobe, Cognitive Neuroscience Professor Glen Adams discusses different regions of the brain in class on Oct. 21. The course wa~ added to the psychology department this year to allow for an entire semester de-voted to the branch. Ashel Parsons Academics f85
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