Extracurricular Activities
Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, DMS Club Activities Director, internship with Klamath Basin Behavioral Health
A Little Bit About Me
My name is Tessa Rae, I was named after a Tesserae or mosaic art piece. I am a fourth generation in the United States Armenian. I was born and raised on the beautiful Oregon Coast. One of my most interesting hobbies includes roller skating on the beachfront. I am currently homeschooling my daughter while attending school full-time online. I am very active in my community in the many ways I can be. I have over 1,000 volunteer hours with at-risk youth. Many of my elective credits were spent studying science. If I could, I would stay in school for a lifetime due to my passion for learning.
Why I Chose Oregon Tech and My Major
Oregon Tech has a number of dedicated and professional students. This creates a very studious atmosphere that drew me into admission. I myself am very dedicated and studious. I always knew I wanted to major, minor, or dual major in psychology. It not only aids with career development but also interpersonal development.
My Influential Professors
I have had a number of influential professors at Oregon Tech. One stands out to me the most. He not only taught me valuable course material but also demonstrated how a model mental health professional should act. His nonverbal communication spoke volumes. He was calm, dressed professionally in a neutral way, and expressed an immense amount of empathy for everyone around him. He taught me the ethical and moral values of a counselor which are some of the most valuable course material I have learned thus far. He made sure that students learned to understand, not memorize. I hope one day I am as excellent of a role model as he has been.
My Greatest Learning Experience At Oregon Tech
I have had a number of enlightening moments here at Oregon Tech, my most memorable has been my internship at Klamath Basin Behavioral Health. During this experience, I learned much more than I have from previous instruction. The hands-on experience taught me that I have a lot of the necessary qualities one needs to work in the mental health profession. I learned about the Klamath Tribes' history, culture, and tribal healthcare offered to Native Americans in the area.
My Plans After Graduation
Once I graduate with my Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology, I will pursue a master's degree online in either teaching or school counseling. I have an immense passion for working with children and assisting future generations toward their academic and personal goals. This work will be very rewarding and will fit well with my own schedule raising my daughter as a single mother.