Name: Deanndra Pimentel
Program Completed at APU: Doctorate of Counseling Psychology
Dissertation Title: The Potential Connection Between Empathy and Technology Use In Children
Hometown: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Best Classes at APU: Looking back, my favorite class was actually my least favorite at the time. I was so incredibly challenged by my Techniques of Data Analysis (AKA Stats) class that it was a real beast for me to overcome. However, I learnt so much in that class that informed much of the research methods and techniques in my dissertation that I am truly grateful for it. I was blessed to have such a fantastic stats professor that made the information accessible and applicable to all of our work. At the time, it took everything I had just to make it through that course, but looking back it was something that provided me such amazing value.
Favorite APU memory: All of us dragging ourselves into weekend seminar in the darkness of Winter, and sharing food and coffee. What a fantastic cohort of people! I will always look back at my time at APU fondly!
Next Adventure post-APU: I recently accepted a clinical position doing vocational and rehabilitation psychology with a private rehabilitation company here in BC. The next hurdle for me will be to register as a psychologist with the College of BC Psychologists and start my career as a fully-licensed Psychologist.
Words of Wisdom for Other Students: This is a tough one! There are two things I think were essential to me in my journey:
1) Find a mentor that supports you, believes you can achieve your goal and has the time and interest to help you along when you get stuck. I feel fortunate to have a couple fantastic mentors throughout my time at APU. My first mentor is a Registered Psychologist that I started working with in my Masters. She believed in me and my ability and encouraged me throughout my education. She gave me opportunities to grow and learn and I am so grateful for her kindness and incredible wisdom! I know that if I hadn’t met her, I would not be where I am today. My second mentor is the professor that supervised my dissertation. He allowed me to work in my own timeline, understood the way I worked and yet pushed me to be a better writer, researcher and future Psychologist. He is an amazing person and an absolute wealth of knowledge and I was lucky to have had him as my professor and mentor!
2) My second piece of advice to students is to take responsibility for your own education. Be organized, work hard and if you want something (e.g., a particular practicum experience or extra training on a certain topic) you should make it happen. You are responsible for the education that you receive so push yourself, expect the best from yourself and don’t give up.
