My name is Meghan Fitzpatrick. I am a senior at the University of Oklahoma. My major is Psychology with a General Business minor. I graduate at the end of this semester, which I can hardly believe is happening, and then I hope to continue on in furthering my education by going to graduate school where I will earn my PhD in School Psychology.
School Psychology is one of the smaller fields of psychology that is constantly growing and expanding so it is common for many people to ask me what School Psychology is. The most simplistic way to answer that is to say that school psychologists help people. To go a little more in depth into that answer, picture a school district. Based on the number of school psychologists that there are in the United States, there is typically one school psychologist per school district. Now picture a teacher that has a student who can be rather disruptive, or a troublesome student. The teacher can ask the school psychologist to come visit with the student to help determine what is the root of the reason why the student is acting the way he or she is. Now that not only is that psychologist helping the student, but they are also helping the other students in the class room and the teacher. I want to be that person. I love children, I love helping people and I love psychology, so this is my dream career. School psychologists can work in the public education system or in private practice. My ultimate goal is to work in private practice and to own my own practice. However, I know that dream is quite a ways off so I will focus on first getting a job once I have finished graduate school.
I am currently taking 18 hours to graduate on time and also complete my business minor. Along with the heavy course load, I also just started working two part-time jobs to help me save up for grad school. I also am an undergraduate research assistant for one of the psychology labs here on campus and an active member of the organization Sigma Phi Lambda. Those girls have just been the most amazing, Jesus praising, group of girls I could find on campus. I have always been a busy-bee, so this work load is nothing new to me. I am glad, however that this online class will allow me to have a little more freedom in my schedule since we can work ahead and work at our own pace, within reason.
I recently had the opportunity to be a maid of honor for my best friend as she was married on January 3rd. The entire process was amazing to be part of and I feel blessed that she chose me to be part of her big day. The wedding was here and Norman, Oklahoma at Wildwood Church and I cannot imagine a more God-fearing couple to get married.
(Me with the Bride, photo taken by Jillian Mueller, one of the other bridesmaids)
