Clinical Psychology Personal Statement

When I was in fifth grade, people often asked me what I aspired to be when I grew up. I said that I wanted to be a professional soccer player, despite my being the clumsiest girl on the field. I was asked again at my middle school graduation. And even though I was only five feet tall, I said that I wanted to be a supermodel. Halfway through my high school career, I told the curious questioner that I would one day be a child advocacy lawyer. Now, as a graduating high school senior, I assume I will be bombarded with the infamous question of what I want to be. But I have so many dreams and aspirations for myself that it’s extremely hard to pick just one. All of my interests and passions overwhelm my visions of the future. As appealing as being a supermodel who jet sets around the world is, I have ultimately found that my true passion lies in psychology. It was the hours of binge-watching shows like Criminal Minds and Lie To Me that prompted my interest in psychology. But upon further investigation, my interest quickly formed into a passion as I …show more content…
But being surrounded by mental illness makes clinical psychology a particularly personal major. My little sister was diagnosed with ADHD when she began middle school. I have watched my sister struggle through traditional schooling, teachers calling her stupid and the medicine making her depressed. Additionally, my father constantly faces the highs and lows of bipolar disorder. He often stayed awake for days at a time or could not get out of bed. On a grander scale, I have noticed the terrifying trend of numerous tragedies occurring at the hands of mental illness. Society generally has a negative perception of mental illness and I hope that by studying clinical psychology I can change that. Although I could not help my sister or my father, I hope to help people suffering from mental illness like