What did you like most about Oregon Tech?
I enjoyed the requirement for hands on learning, most universities only have book study courses, memorize and regurgitate for a test. At OIT you have to not only know the materials in the book but be able to apply them in the field you are studying. An example of this is the externship Relationship Building Program., while my personal focus was not clinical or social psychology I took what I was learning in clinical, social and research and was able to practice using what I had learn from a book with people in a safe and semi-controlled environment. While an internship like RBP is focused more towards working with people and their families teaching parenting skills they do research and present at conferences such as the Western Psychological Association conference yearly as well as Western Positive Psychology Association conference as well. This means that the group requires someone who is interested and invested in the research aspect of psychology, where my interest lays. To me this requirement means that students at OIT are more ready to face some of the challenges they will be expected to handle when they are working at places such as KBBH, DHS, or other areas of interest for them.
What did you find the most useful or beneficial?
The thing I found most useful was taking what we had learned in a textbook and classroom and applying it to potential future careers. This practice is useful in assisting students gain confidence in their skills. The opportunity to be a research assistant with Dr. Clint has been invaluable. He has been able to take my interest and show me how it would be utilized in the future of academia as well as in everyday situations. The connections I have been able to gain by having these close interactions with my professors, such as Dr. Peterson and Dr. Kessler in the Relationship Building Program, as well as Dr. Clint introducing me to other professors in the field of study I am interested in has been incredible. Dr. Clint was able to give me the chance to be a co-author on 2 different research papers, this has helped me better understand what true academic research is like as well as expand my knowledge in R programs.
Where do you work/ what is your job now?
I currently work full time with Klamath Orthopedic and Sports Medicine as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant as well as a Research Assistant at OIT with Dr. Clint.