Graduate Admissions Essay

I took 15 minutes to write out my answers, they are very rough. I am looking for this to all be put in a concise, well thought out essay. The details in my answer seem personal but I am not sensitive about them, please let me know if you’d like more information. There are some questions that have very little or no response, I would love guidence on how to answer these as they feel very straight forward. 

See below:

1.What has inspired and/or maintained your interest in counseling?

As a child I was always interested in acting and learning playing different characters, my father was a psychologist and I would often use his DSM book to get a better understanding of human behavior. I’ve continually been fascinated by the way our brains operate and how that informs are behavior and mood. 

I do want to acknowledge my low GPA for my undergraduate degree. This was a pivotal part of my story and has informed and shaped the trajectory of life. I am a recovering alcoholic who just celebrated 10 years of sobriety. In the process of getting my degree, I was in active addiction to drugs and alcohol. When I was 20, amidst my schooling, I was admitted into a rehab facility. It was there that I was introduced to a recovery program, group therapy, and began the journey of addressing the motivating factors that contributed to my addiction. After leaving the facility I completed my last semester of my undergraduate degree in cinema arts and sciences. 

Being introduced to a recovery program, which I’m still involved with today, offered me an amazing opportunity to help individuals struggling with addiction. People would often walk into the rooms on the verge of death and lacking in hope. Being able to witness and be a part of someones recovery continues to bring me joy and hope. Seeing someone transform from a fragile mental and physical state to a healthy functioning member of society shows me how resilient the human spirit is and how capable of growing we all are. 

2.What interests you in the specific counseling program for which you are applying?

Im interested in the clinical mental health program because it will equip me with the knowledge to help a broader audience. Utilizing the fundamentals and education on treatment approaches, it is my hope to one day open a private practice. 

3.Describe personal qualities and experiences you have had which you believe contribute to your ability to work with diverse populations.

I am a product of a biracial marriage, a white mother and a black father. Growing up with a multi racial multi cultural lens was at time confusing and isolating. straddling the lines between both a majority and minority  race has given me a tremendous amount of perspective on society, interpersonal relationships, and how individuals choose to identify themselves. I am perceived to be ethnically ambiguous, or passing, which has afforded me a look into spaces that may not be welcoming to darker skinned individuals. 

I have experienced a lot of shame and guilt that comes with being a passing person and having access to opportunities that other’s with my ethnic makeup do not have. I’ve also experienced a heavy sense of responsibility for speaking up on injustices, both overtly and covertly in such situations. It is this unique lens that I hope to help individuals navigate their sense of cultural identity and find a place of belonging. 

I am also a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. I understand how difficult it can be to be different in a heteronormative society and the bravery it takes to own your authentic self. I’ve navigated through the stereotypes placed upon and born out of the gay community both in my personal and professional life.  My journey to self acceptance involved therapy, research, and finding people in my life who supported me. I love the ideal of helping people navigate through the world to be proud of their sexual and gender identities. 

I would be remiss to not include my perspective on Trauma. I would like to preface that I understand the topic I will discuss may be sensitive and at times triggering. As a child I was molested by a family member and for year’s kept it a secret from my family and friends. It is through therapy (EMDR,CBT,ACT) that I have come to peace with my childhood and look at my experiences as an asset. It has taught me the importance of boundaries, consent, and vulnerability.  For our society, this topic can be very taboo and it is my belief that silence around it perpetuates a sense of shame. Knowing this, I’ve found it vastly important to be vulnerable about this area of my life and advocate on behalf of people who may not feel comfortable doing so. It is my sincerest hope that I can learn to implement the same mechanisms of recovery that I have received and to help individuals with coping strategies. 

4.What are your hopes about yourself as a graduate student and as a future counselor?

As a graduate student, it is my hope to gain an in depth understanding of the varying modalities of counseling as well as their best use cases. As a future counselor, I look to open a private practice that’ll house a diverse staff so we can make the most impact. 

5.What are some possible barriers that may prevent you from successfully completing your graduate studies?What are your plans for working through these barriers?

One of the main barriers to successfully completing my graduate degree will be my full time employment as an agency producer. I’ve made strides in time management and boundary setting as it comes to my profession and I believe holding these boundaries will ensure a successful completion of the program. 

6.What are your career goals in the counseling field and how will your graduate education in counseling assist you in achieving these goals?

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