Welcome to my monthly updates! I hope you can learn a little bit more about the work that I am doing while I study at Antioch University Seattle.
“Follow your instincts. That’s where true wisdom manifests itself.”
– Oprah Winfrey
Next Steps:
Classes are going by fast and finally I get to start seeing clients!!!
Personal Life:
So good news and bad news! The good news is that I got accepted into the Masters of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP) program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. The program is great, I got a 17,000$ Fellowship to help me pay for the program and it’s a great opportunity for me to gain the authority to prescribe as a future psychologist.
I started classes in this program last week and oh lord was I not expecting to start off with Biochemistry and Neuroscience right off the bat. Well, I spent a few days talking with friends and family, and I realized that I was starting to display symptoms of fatigue as I did during my third semester of Zoom school during the height of the pandemic. Many of you might remember that I even considered taking a leave of absence, but thankfully I was able to finish my senior year of my B.A. in San Francisco. Well, since this program is fully online with discussion boards and reading books (no lectures), my mind was starting to give up. I stared at an assignment for three days, despite the fact that I actually knew the answers, but just couldn’t focus enough to do it. So I decided to withdraw from the MSCP program and just focus on my doctoral (PsyD) degree. It was a difficult decision, but I do hope to come back after I get licensed in the future or might look for a program that offers in-person classes.
Antioch University Seattle:
It’s exciting to see the new first years in the program and it’s really cool that I get to serve as a mentor this year! This quarter still feels relatively easy, but I know things are about to ramp up and get more difficult, especially once I start seeing my clients. The clinic has been a bit slow with the reintroduction of in-person services, but there is hope that everything will start running smoothly soon.
As I am writing this email, I also just discovered that I have completed 300 hours of service for my position in AmeriCorps as a Student Success Steward. I am excited to see where I go next, as I decide to apply to two different fellowship opportunities, which will hopefully allow me to stop working, focus on my classes, and not have to worry about pulling out loans to pay for grad school.
In addition to these programs, I also discovered a new path in psychology that I might be interested in. Most people know that I am primarily interested in working with juveniles in the legal system or with pediatrics/adolescents/young adults as they navigate life in the USA. In my upcoming video, you’ll get to learn more about this new path, so I hope you take some time to check it out! In addition to this path, I have an added goal of working out more and hopefully losing weight! I want to do this to get into the program, for my personal health, but also because I want to focus more on enjoying the outdoors before I sit like a hermit for a year writing my dissertation.
Check out the latest video I added! It’s part of a self-reflection assignment I did for class, but I wanted to share a small part of my journey with you all: https://youtu.be/RxPCKpjD6Qk?si=GhgcD-iM1OsfUutS
Special Projects:
Bran Diego Photos – The original name is back and I am still posting pictures from my trip to Vancouver!
BachStreetBoi – I have not been streaming consistently, but I am still continuing to create content when I can.
AnxieTea Podcast – The podcast is still delayed, aiming to hopefully get it running soon.
Instructions Unclear – Delayed till post-grad.
The PsyDream Vlog – First Video Released!
Thank you for your time, dedication, and service! You can always reach out to me @ bran.m.ramirez@gmail.com
-Brandon Ramirez