Some Words of Inspiration to Start the School Year

Justine N. Rossi, MS, SSP
School Psychologist II

What better way to start your new school year than with some words of inspiration?!

That’s why we invited Psi Chi member Justine Rossi to share a recent talk she gave at Winthrop University’s (SC) spring 2016 induction ceremony. After her article, we also provide “Six Ways to Start Your Year With Psi Chi.”




Hello, fellow psychologists!

My name is Justine Rossi, and I am a School Psychologist serving two elementary schools and one high school in the state of North Carolina. As a Winthrop University psychology undergraduate, I served as a Psi Chi president and held many other positions within the Psi Chi and Psychology clubs. The interactions I was afforded with psychology classmates, university professors, and other like-minded individuals helped me define my graduate school decisions and pushed me to get more involved in our field. After finishing my undergraduate work at Winthrop, I stuck around for another 3 years and completed the school psychology graduate program earning a master’s degree of science in school psychology and a specialist’s degree of school psychology.

I encourage each of you to reach out, read up, and integrate yourself in your respective field of psychology. Do not take for granted the plethora of resources you have available at your disposal! I am cheering you on right now to: learn, experience, do, seek, desire, practice, observe, talk, listen, and feel out each and every possibility presented to you in your psychology studies.

As an undergraduate, I presented group research at a professional psychology conference in New Orleans, LA, and ended up winning not only an award, but some much needed cash and recognition from my university! The research was fun, I learned a lot, and the experience was one of a kind. Toward the end of my undergraduate career, I presented independent research in St. Petersburg, FL. Although I did not take home any prizes, I again received recognition from my university, and the experience widened my scope of understanding of psychology . . . not to mention, it boosted my résumé, and I got to take a trip to the beach!

Speaking candidly with you, at times I took the “easy road” and skipped over required readings, did the bare minimum with putting myself out there, so-to-speak, and did not always immerse myself into all of the outlets available to me at the college level in the field of psychology. When crunch time came for graduate school applications, it truly hit me how much time, energy, and resources I did not tap into for furthering my early stages of becoming a psychologist.

Although I am so grateful for all of the experiences I did have, I am also regretful that I did not take absolute full advantage of the opportunities available. Be confident in the direction(s) you head, yet go forth with an open mind and heart for the bumps in the road that you will meet. Sometimes, these bumps are the best game changers you could hope for. Best of luck to each of you!

Cheers,

Justine N. Rossi, MS, SSP
School Psychologist II

Six Ways to Start Your Year With Psi Chi

1. Start Looking for the Perfect Career
   Psi Chi’s Career Center has thousands of psychology-related job openings to choose from. Even if you aren’t searching for a job right now, go ahead and set up an automatic Job Alert in case your dream job becomes available someday in your general geographic area.
   
2. Write an Article for Psi-Chi-ology Lab
   Our submissions guidelines are short and sweet. As Justine told us in an e-mail, submitting was “such a fun opportunity!” We’re sure it would be fun for you too.
   
3. Apply for an Award or Grant
   We offer more than $400,000 in awards and grants to all member types. We’ve got a little something for everyone: scholarships, awards for chapter leadership, awards for research, grants to travel to conventions, and much more.
   
4. Submit to Psi Chi Journal
   Our rigorous, peer-reviewed Journal accepts undergraduate, graduate, and faculty submissions by Psi Chi members. All published manuscripts are free to read at psichi.org. They are also indexed in Crossref, PsycINFO, and EBSCO databases.
   
5. Offer to Support Your Chapter
   Consider volunteering to manage a community service event. Or invite a guest speaker such as a local alumni member like Justine.
   
6. Conduct a Lab Experiment
   Psi Chi members, share your (and your chapter’s) top goals for the new academic year in the comment section below.