Value and Service
Written by Amber Manini
As college students we are constantly in search of trying to find ourselves. Whether it be discovering we completely dislike Math or learning that Chemistry is really harder than we thought. Our goal is to get a higher education that will help us in which ever field we eventually will work in. Most times as juniors and seniors we learn how to apply our basic skills at a complex level through taking three hundred and four hundred level courses that force us to think outside the box. In our last two years we are faced with what may be considered some of the toughest classes taken as an undergraduate. One of these courses should be a practicum experience.
Psychology 445, Psychology Practicum is just one of the 400-level courses that are offered to our undergraduate juniors and seniors. This course offered in both fall and spring semesters gives 15 Psychology major students the opportunity to be placed with various sites in the Hilo working as an intern there. As well as providing them with three upper division psychology credits.
Psychology 445 students meet as a class on Monday afternoons throughout the semester for 75 minutes. For the remaining class time for the week each student is required to work for ten hours at their site they are placed with. Students have had practicum experiences at places such as The Arc of Hilo, Lanakila Learning Center, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Salvation Army, Care Hawaii, Family Intervention Services Interim Homes, and many more.
“Itʻs a wonderful opportunity for students to actually get hands on experience for the whole semester working at a placement site that has accepted them for practicum,” said Dr. Cheryl Ramos the psychology professor who teaches the Psychology practicum course. “Seeing students who come in and saying you know social work would be a good track for you, or just everything about you is saying elementary school teacher and when we are able to get placements like that. Practicum becomes so easy for them. Not that it’s an easy class but the fit between them and the site is so good. They love what they are doing,” she said.
Picture provided by Sossity Rapoza a graduate who was a student in PSY 445. In this picture she is shown helping young youth. This picture has been provided via Lanakila Learning Center.
Kahea a Fall 2013 UH Hilo Bachelors in Psychology graduate was placed at Child and Family Services for her practicum. During her practicum she worked in the Transitional Family Home program where she focused her work on children and adolescents. “My supervisors, through their interrogations, as well as, having me interact one on one with the youth, really got me to examine my skill level, knowledge, observation accuracy, and problem solving ability. Therefore I gained confidence in myself,” said Kahea.
Kahea reminisces on a meeting her supervisors took her too in which she was able to answer questions a foster parent had. It was then she says that she knew she was on the right path. Kahea was fortunate to get a job offer from the company after graduating. She now has two positions with the company the first, a Skills Trainer for the Early Intervention Service program and the second, a Life Skills Specialist II in the Transitional Family Home program.
A practicum experience is essential to all college graduates. Through the experience we are able to learn not only about ourselves but through the eyes of experience with co-workers, staff and, the patients you are helping.
“I have grown so much through this experience I discovered that I have a passion for working with youth, which is something that I never would have even considered had it not been for this experience. I also discovered strengths and weaknesses pertaining to my position which helped me to grow professionally and personally, said Sossity a Spring 2014 graduate from UH Hiloʻs Psychology program.”
As Dr. Ramos would suggest, add value to your college degree and seek out learning through practicum experiences, “number one, be of service.” As she continuously reminds her students, be of service to those who are in need. Value your education and take the time to learn, hands on, being of service to those around you.
