People fascinate me. As a kid, I spent hours at my father’s psychiatric office exploring the quirks of the human mind. I would curl up on the couch and listen attentively as he explained autism and other psychiatric conditions. Before I left I would often sneak items off of his bookshelf. I explored the neuropsychological functions of the mind as I perused This is Your Brain on Music and grappled with the fatality of eating disorders as I read THIN. Today, my actions remain driven by my desire to understand those around me. I am most content when learning about people’s frames of reference by reading a memoir or discussing beliefs and biases with a friend. Studying psychology at Penn would allow me to examine thoughts and emotions through an academic lens, making my personal curiosity central to my education.

My father has taught me that it is insufficient to study his patients’ behavior and cognition. A psychotherapist’s curiosity is futile without a commitment to heal. Similarly, I have come to appreciate the mind as more than a source of intellectual intrigue. I strive to understand how others experience the world in order to engage my empathy and affect causes greater than myself. I believe that my personal approach is reflected in Penn’s academic philosophy. Students and professors at Penn transform their theoretical ideas and hypotheses into solutions to real concerns, aided by a university with major research capacity. They are committed to applying their learning in ways that change the world around them. I am thrilled by the idea of exploring psychology at Penn, using my knowledge of the mind as the foundation for my impact on my community.

As an undergrad, I would seek the opportunity to interact with Angela Duckworth. I first encountered Professor Duckworth on YouTube. I was in awe as I watched her TED Talk entitled “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.” As she gave her speech, I was struck by the presence she commanded. I can only imagine the joy of researching positive psychology under her wing. Positive psychology is the science of human success and happiness, a revolutionary subfield founded by Martin Seligman, a current Penn professor. As a research assistant to Professor Duckworth, I would like to study optimism as a means of preventing and treating depression. I would explore solutions to an often enigmatic disorder that could supersede Zoloft and Lexapro. Through this research experience, I would embody Penn’s goal of academic impact beyond the classroom.

The Academically Based Community Service (ABCS) program within the Netter Center would also allow me to integrate my learning with my desire to affect my community. Penn students can take ABCS courses that examine and solve problems in the West Philadelphia area. As a participant in this program, I would take the Everyday Neuroscience class, instilling a passion for the brain in West Philly public high schools. I would bring hands-on demonstrations and mini-lectures to these schools, helping to engage the students and increase their science literacy. The ability to take ABCS classes reveals much about the University of Pennsylvania. Penn is committed to Benjamin Franklin’s belief that “The great Aim and End of all Learning... is service [to society].” The practical applications of experimental ideas throughout the College fulfill this motto, contributing to the creation of a more just world.

My love of psychology is deeply linked with Penn. Without my father’s experience at the Perelman School of Medicine, he would not have pursued a career in psychiatry, and he would not have introduced me to the fascinations of the brain. I would be both honored and excited to continue exploring psychology as a student of the College.