SergioRetica is an adult student pursuing a degree in psychology. He took his first psychology class, Psychology 105, which focused on the biological perspective of behavior and sparked his interest in learning more about psychology. Through taking additional courses, he became most interested in neuroscience and clinical psychology. While he may not pursue a clinical psychology doctorate due to time and financial constraints, he is looking into clinical programs in social work. He finds the clinical aspect of psychology appealing because it gives him the opportunity to help people change problematic patterns of behavior. Previously, Sergio worked as a case manager for a non-profit helping individuals with developmental disabilities, where he assisted with daily living skills and medical appointments. The experience reinforced his interest in the

1. SergioRetica
Psychology303 CareerPlanningforPsychologyMajors
Prof.Jared Trullinger
AboutMe Homework
My name isSergioReticaand I am an adultstudentworkingtofinish adegree inPsychology.
I remembermyfirstpsychologyclass,Psychology105a classthat wasfocusedonthe biological
perspective of behavior. Thatwas a veryinterestingclassthathelpedme todecide thatI wantedlearn
more about Psychology.
Later takingmore coursesin psychologylike Developmental,Abnormal, BehavioralNeuroscience,
Social,Cognition,Theoryof Personalitiesandothers,Irealizedthattwothingsinterestedme the most.
One was Neuroscience andthe otherwasClinical Psychology. AndIdecidedthatthe clinical partof
Psychology wasthe areathat I was more interestedtoexplore andeventually tocontinue tostudy.
ProbablyI will notlookingforaClinical Psychologist Doctorate because toolongand I don’thave the
necessaryfinancial resourcesto stay forso longin school,but I am lookingata clinical programin
the Social Work School area. I foundthe clinical partof Psychologyinteresting,because isgivingme
the opportunitytohelppeople tochange. Manypersonsgo throughtheirdailyroutine exposed
to idea,imagesandpeople asothersbuttheyremainunable tochange theirview of themselvesor
othersand unable togive upself-defeatingpatternof behavior. Some otherpeoplemeettheirworld
ina rigid,fearful oraggressive waysfindasa resulta lotof unhappinessorsatisfaction. Isthese
individuals,personsthatare strugglingtoresolve theirpersonorinterpersonal problemsthatIwould
like helpwithmywork.
Before decidinggoingbackinschool I washoldingapositionasCase Manager in a non-profit
Organizationthatwashelpingindividualswithdevelopmental disabilitiesin Massachusetts.
I was responsible forfourindividual’s twoboysandtwowomenwithdevelopmentandcognition

2. issuesandmedical problems; theywere diagnosedwithseizures. Workinginthisprogrammyjob
dutieswere toassistthese personswiththeirdailylivingskills routineandtobringthemto
theirmedical appointments andadministrationof medications. Iwasalsooversee the individuals
financial bank statementsandresponsible forthe programfoodbudget.
I was a goodlistenerand a goodobserverandI wasaddressedandtreated the individuals
as a friendand as a personthatcares aboutthem. I rememberedone episodeof when Iwasworking
inthisnewprogram inWellesley. Iwas at the time the weekend staff personforthis veryhigh
functionally programof youngindividualsthatsufferedforamildformof mental retardation. The
weekendwassetupina way thatthese youngboysand girlshada verybusyphysical and
intellectually activitiesduringthesetwodays. Theywere going tothe gym, to the bowling, tothe track
and to the mall for shoppingand toattendclass activitieslike paintingandtothe theater. These guys
like me somuch and appreciate the wayI wasinteractingwiththem, thattheyasked totheirfamilies
to talk withthe managementof the agencyfora raise and a more stable positioninthisprogram.
I reallyenjoyedworkwiththemandIwasa good listenerandagood positive model forthem.
Workinginthisprofessional environment, Ilearnedalotaboutthe job,but I alwaysmissed the
knowledge part, thatonlyaspecificeducationlike Psychologycangive you. At the time I remember
goingto differenttrainingsessions thatthere were focusingon differentaspectof mental illness
and medical problems,butIwas lackingthe preparation. The Universitygave me the possibility
to fill thatgap of knowledge. Andnowwhen one yearagoI wentback inMassachusetts for
an interviewforapositionforanewprogram for people withbraininjuryIfoundmyself prepared
and whentheytalkedaboutmedical problems, Iknew exactlywhattheywere talking about. My
scientificknowledgewasnowdifferentfromeightyearsago whenIwasworking. Iwas finding
myself confident,preparedand withalotof knowledgeinissuesand problematicsof mental
healthandphysiological problems.
One of my strengthisto lookfor agreementwithothersandsoinmy job. It isverydifficulttowork

3. withothersif youholddisagreementsandnotworktowardsa common ground of understandingeach
other. Sometimeswhenitisdifficulttoarrive toany commongroundabout a problemIpreferletgo.
I try to be notplugso much inany negative dispute thatarisesfordifferentopinionsandpointof
viewsandI thinkthatfeelingsome empathyforotherpeoplehelps alot. I considermyself tobe a very
sensitiveperson;and thatisprobablyanothermystrength thathelpme to forgive aperson
that isangry and sayssomethingnotnice aboutme. That’s alsohelpedme alotin orderto keep
my jobfor a longtime. I considermyself tobe averyadaptable persontodifferentenvironments
and that isveryimportantforany job. Alsoif I have a preference forstabilitybecause that issomething
that helpme to do a betterjob and to developedasense of connectednesswith the clientsthatIam
helpingwithmy work.