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V OLUME II, I SSUE I
O N B EING
A
F EBRUARY 2008
R ETURNING S TUDENT
B Y M ERIKE A NDRE -B ARRETT
Over the past several
years, I have become
increasingly aware of the
crucial roles mental health
practitioners play in
education, social work,
medicine as well as in the
private spheres of personal
and interpersonal
relationships. Through my
own work – both in a
H OW
TO
professional and intellectual
capacity as well as through
my activist and volunteer
experiences – I have
cultivated a deep interest in
human development and
insight into human
behaviour and relationships.
Last year I decided that I
would pursue this interest
and return to school, and
A CHIEVE
P SYCH S TUDY T IP
“The Two Hour Rule”
The general rule is that for
every hour of time you spend in
class, you should spend two
hours of your own time
studying the material.
Merike Andre-Barrett
was lucky enough to be
Returning continued on page 2
A HIGHER
GPA
P SYCH J OKE
How many psychologists
does it take to change a
light bulb?
•
B Y J ACKY C HOI
Knowing that PsychOut! would publish three
issues in volume 2, I would
publish the article “How to
achieve a higher GPA”
separately by having
different topics in each
issue.
If you have ever taken a
Discrete Mathematics
course, you might be
familiar with the two
different types of reasoning
of proving an argument.
These reasoning types can
help us understand more
about our inner self because
it would enable us to
understand how to study
effectively.
Inductive Reasoning
Inductive reasoning is
when someone prefers
looking at examples when
they first encounter the
subject. A common
example would be starting
to play a game and learning
the rules as you go along.
Deductive Reasoning
Deductive reasoning is
when someone wants to
understand the concept of
the material before starting
to work on the material. A
common example would be
reading the rulebook before
playing a game.
•
Why do we need to know
this?
•
Your would want to
know your preference
because this would help you
d e t e rm in e h o w y ou
approach learning a specific
concept. Taking the
approach that is congruent
with your learning style
would make haste on
understanding how the
concept works, which is an
important factor on how
people classify others as
genius.
None. The light bulb
will change itself when
it's ready.
Just one, but the light
bulb really has to want
to change.
Just one, but it takes nine
visits.
I NSIDE
THIS ISSUE :
O N B EING A
R ETURNING S TUDENT
2
A W ORD FROM N ORA
IN THE PSY100 O FFICE
2
P SYCHOLOGY P ROFILES
4
I NSIDE J OKES
6
P SYCH - OUT !
P AGE 2
R ETURNING TO S CHOOL
Returning continued from page 1
accepted to U of T’s Psychology
program.
Previous to this, I had finished my
B.A. in Philosophy at McGill
University – and while it was definitely
a formative experience, it took a few
years after that for me to really figure
out what kind professional aspirations I
wanted to pursue.
The experiences that led me to this
realization included working with
various groups in need where I have
gained greater awareness of the
community in which I live. This
awareness is part of what I perceive to
be the social responsibilities of good
citizenship: human awareness,
empathy, and generosity. These
experiences have included recent work
with youth in Regent Park, a housing
project in Toronto comprised of
mostly immigrant families, where in
the Pathways to Education program, I
acted as a weekly mentor for at-risk
youth to whom I offered academic and
social support. The stresses of
adolescence for many of these youth
are added to by situations stemming
from poverty as well as barriers related
to language and culture. The training I
received from the Pathways to
Education program enabled me to
better relate to these youth in order to
create spaces for open and honest
communication.
As a McGill university student, I
coordinated the training of all new
volunteers for the McGill Universitysponsored phone support line,
Queerline. Queerline offers objective
support, counseling, and referral in
areas of gender and sexuality,
relationships, and issues relating to
housing, legal aid and health care. In
this position, I worked with others to
create a manual for all new volunteers
outlining volunteer obligations,
protocol, and various issues dealt with
on the phoneline including sexual
assault, domestic violence,
transgender/transsexuality,
bisexuality, BDSM, and sexual health.
During this time, I also sought out
workshops and lectures that I believed
would enrich my skills as a phoneline
counsellor including STD workshops
given by leading health practitioners as
well as Active Listening training given
by McGill Health Centre
psychologists.
It has been in these interactions and
involvements in my community that I
have found both intellectually
challenging and socially satisfying
work. Last year I was involved in
similarly fulfilling work with the
Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health, leading a weekly Narrative/
Storytelling workshop with clients in
their general psychosis unit. That work
was incredibly challenging and
fulfilling, and really gave me the push I
needed to decide to return to school to
study Psychology in hopes of soon
applying to various Counselling
Psychology graduate programs both in
Canada and the U.S. This year, in a
Research Assistant role I’m working
with a different group of clients –
infants! – at the OISE’s Early Social
Development Lab where I am part of a
team looking at how processing and
categorization of faces occurs in 3, 6,
and 9-month-olds.
Returning to school has been
strange at first – getting back into the
swing of things, opening up dusty parts
of my brain to work with the statistical
and biological elements of the
Psychology program, and also
remembering the challenges of
working within a large institution.
However, it has been so refreshing to
be truly exercising my brain again,
immersed in material that I find
fascinating and endlessly relevant, and
recognizing that this is a challenge that
I have set for myself – a challenge that I
am ready to take on.
A WORD FROM N ORA IN THE PSY100 O FFICE
Hello PSY100 Students:
By now you have a few classes
under your belts and are getting the
hang of the course (we hope), the ways
of your profs (day and night), and how
to be a guinea pig in a science
experiment. And now your first test is
looming large in the future. So much
reading to do… so little time.
A bit about me: I am located in the
PSY100 office (room 4026 Sidney
Smith Hall) and am here to answer
your questions and concerns about
PSY100 and, if this is your first year at
U of T, other first year concerns. (by
the way, I’m the one who answers the
lion’s share of your PSY100 email
questions.) I’ve also taken PSY100
(class of Winter 2007) and so have
experience from the ‘student’ angle as
well as the ‘admin’ angle. Before
coming to this
job, I worked
most recently as
the Psychology
Undergraduate
Advisor, and so
do have some
perspective on
what comes next –
Nora sellers,
Psychology
Undergraduate
Advisor
PSY100 continued on page 3
V OLUME II, I SSUE I
P AGE 3
T IPS FOR PSY100 S TUDENTS
PSY100 continued from page 2
for those of you who want to pursue
studies in psychology.
Some tips for preparing for the
midterms and final exam (as well
as for understanding the
material):
1. Keep up with the readings! The
best case scenario is doing the
readings BEFORE the appropriate
lecture. It really does help. Also
VERY helpful is preparing a daily
reading/studying schedule and
sticking to it as best you can. Of
course, this isn’t always possible,
but at least you will have
guidelines and an idea of how
much needs to be studied before a
test and/or the final exam.
2. We have study groups! The PSA
has organized a Study Group for
both the night section (Dr. Dax
Urbszat) and the day section (Dr.
Dan Dolderman). The times are
posted on the PSY100 websites.
TAs will be on hand for each of
the study groups scheduled before
each of the midterm tests.
3. The course TAs are available to
assist you! Not many students take
advantage of the course TA hours.
You can get one-on-one help for
those areas of the course that are
PSY100 STUDY GROUP 2008
Dr. Dolderman’s section
Dr. Urbszat’s section
causing you problems and/or that
you want clarified, or just want to
talk about. These hours are for
you. Do take advantage of them.
4. Participate in the Dr. Freud
competition! The PSA will be
organizing a Dr. Freud
competition later in the term, so
students can test themselves on
what they know. It’s fun AND a
great way to study. Stay tuned to
the PSA and PSY100 websites for
more information.
If you are sick and can’t make
the midterm:
You’ll need a medical certificate.
Email me [email protected]
as soon as you know you won’t be able
to make it. I’ll need your certificate
within a week of the missed test.
Tips about participating
experiments:
in
1. Signing up for experiments is done
on the Experiment and Marks
page of the PSY100 websites (day
and evening). Participating in
experiments is a great way of
consolidating information you’ve
learned in class (especially the
Research Methodology stuff) AND
participation in four experiments
guarantees you the 3 percent of
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every Tuesday, from 3-4pm
every Thursday, from 4-5pm
...at the Psych Lounge (SS 4043)
Study & discuss the prior week’s material, and have access
TAs and upper year students for study strategies and tips to
succeed in PSY100, with drop-in flexibility, all in a
comfortable, friendly environment.
“
“
your final grade allotted to
experiments. It could (and I’ve
seen it) make the difference
between a C+ and a B-, B and an
A-, an A- and an A, a pass or a
fail… you get the idea. It can also
mean meeting the psych program
entry requirement of 70% or not.
2. If you go to sign up for an
experiment and none are
available, don’t despair. New
experiments are added weekly (or
more frequently). Just wait a day
or so and try again.
3. Credit of experiments sometimes
takes time to make it to the
website. Again, don’t despair.
But do hold on to your
participation forms. If you
haven’t received a credit three
weeks or so after you participated,
bring the form to my office in Sid
Smith room 4026 and I’ll look
into it.
A final word:
Check on the PSY100 websites (day
and evening) regularly for new
information and upcoming events. For
example – your test rooms will be
assigned shortly and these will be
posted on the home page.
Good luck on test #1.
”
”
Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start
thinking of yourself as a success.
~ Dr. Joyce Brothers (1928-), American psychologist,
TV-radio personality, columnist & author.
Opportunity is missed by many people because it is
dressed in overall and looks like work.
~ Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931), Inventor
P SYCH - OUT !
P AGE 4
P SYCHOLOGY P ROFILES
V IVIEN W ONG
future research to focus
mainly on this population.
In addition, I play the piano
and love to sing karaoke. At
one point in my life, I
actually considered studying
music composition as my
major in university.
However, I later decided
that music is more of a
hobby than a passion.
Vivien Wong,
Co-President
I'm a 5’1”, 20-year-old
Asian female (turning 21 in
February 2008) who
is pursuing a degree in
Psychology Research
Specialist and Sociology
minor.
I aspire to go to
graduate school one day to
study and conduct research
about developmental
psychology.
Besides studying
psychology at U of T, I also
volunteer/work at various
labs and as a math tutor for
children attending
elementary school. I enjoy
working with children very
much and I expect my
I joined the PSA in 2005
as a volunteer, became the
seminar coordinator in
2006, and was elected as
Co-President alongside
Marina (who, by the way,
went to the same
elementary school with me
for couple years.)
Being a part of the PSA
has really enhanced my
university experience and
helped me meet many new
people.
I hope that all of you
have a great term and stay
tuned for the next edition
of Psych Out!
K ENNY L EUNG
Hey guys… so I was recently coerced into writing this
profile by Kathryn, the Big Boss of this newsletter (I’m
actually the volunteer coordinator, even if I don’t quite
look or sound the part). Initially, Kathryn gave me a
questionnaire to fill out for this profile, but the questions
she made up were really dull. I actually think the
newsletter would go under after this first publication if all
of us followed her template. Oh, and before I forget, the
PSA is selling mugs for only $3.75 and wine glasses for only
M ARINA M IKHAELIAN
Hi I'm Marina. I'm taller
than Vivien – I am 5’4”, but
she is older (I'm turning 21
in June, not February). I’m
pursuing a Psychology
Research Specialist degree,
with a major in Human
Biology. I plan to go to
graduate school, although I
haven't decided where –
somewhere warm would be
nice, maybe California.
In my spare time, I
enjoy sunsets and long
walks on the beach. Before I
came to U of T, I used to
paint and make short films.
I’ve found my creative
inspiration waning, so I
took up dancing. Now I like
to dance Salsa. I also enjoy
playing
squash,
snowboarding, and, as a
recent discovery, running (I
think I’ve finally reached
the runner’s high!)
My research interests
include cognitive changes
that occur in older adults
(both normal and
pathological). I prefer the
applied side of psychology.
Marina Mikhaelian,
Co-president
This summer I did a
research project at Baycrest
Hospital on psychological
testing for older adults, and
now I am at the Attention
and Cognition Laboratory,
working with Eve De Rosa.
I’ve been with the PSA
since my first year here, and
have met many wise
people. Although our office
is small and cozy, I can’t
wait until the Psychology
Department expands and
we get an office on the
fourth floor (we don't know
when).
I hope you have a great
semester, and if you have
any ideas or feedback,
please email us at:
[email protected]!
$5, and I should be telling you that
they’re selling out really quick, but
if you’ve ever been to our office
you know that’s not the case.
Something relevant I could talk
about is the volunteer appreciation
night that should be happening
some time this term, for both our
fall/winter volunteers. Even though
I told Marina and Vivien I had it all
Kenny continued on page 5
Kenny Leung,
Volunteer Coordinator
V OLUME II, I SSUE I
P AGE 5
planned out, I only have really rough
plans that might not even be feasible,
like having a karaoke night (Vivien
likes to going to sing, so what can we
do about it? I heard she’s pretty good
at hip hop too – those of you who’ve
seen know what I’m talking about),
Yuk Yuk’s (this is definitely not going
to work out, just putting it in here to
make the list of alternatives seem more
extensive than it really is), or having a
movie night. In any case, PSA would
be funding this event, and we should
really take advantage of all this money,
because Jing (our treasurer) says we
can even afford to overspend!! (On a
side note, Jing has access to our
banking account AND she’s pretty cute
too, don’t you guys think?! Err…you
are too… Ka..Kathryn). So if any one
of you has an idea you think might
work out, feel free to send me an
email at [email protected] and
we can talk about the plans in more
detail. Okay, I’ve done enough talking
by now, and I wonder if Kathryn will
make me write something for next
time, assuming that this newsletter
continues to be published.
T AMARA F ERGUSON
complete the last few courses in the
near future.
When people look back at your
life, how do you want to be
remembered?
Kenny continued from page 4
What/who got you interested in
psychology?
Tamara Ferguson, Psychology
Undergraduate Advisor
City of birth: Mississauga, Ontario
Educational background:
I have a four-year Honours BA in
Film Studies both from the University
of Western Ontario and York
University. I also did one-year of
television production and broadcasting
at Fanshawe College, however, I did
not complete the second year of the
program because I realized TV wasn't
up my alley. I have also done studies at
the Masters level at OISE and plan to
possibly continue doing post-graduate
studies over the next few years, parttime. I also began a certificate in
teaching Yoga a few years ago, which
was put on hold so I could start a
family. I hope to return to this and
Truth be told, I have only taken a
couple of courses in Psychology. I
started working at UofT in the Cinema
Studies Program after completing my
studies in film and television. I moved
onto this position in the Dept. of
Psychology for personal and
professional reasons in 2001. The
faculty, staff, and students here in the
Psychology Dept. are the nicest people
I've ever had the pleasure working for
and with and I love being here. What
interests me the most in Psychology at
the moment is child development,
being a parent of two young children.
What are the goals you are still
working toward?
I am continually exploring and
reviewing my educational and personal
goals. Continuing education is
important to me, as well as expanding
my career options. However, raising
my children to be loving,
conscientious, and happy human beings
is probably my biggest goal of all.
This might be an easier question to
answer later down the road, when I
feel like I've lived a lifetime and have
gone through many more experiences.
However, I do know that I want to be
remembered as a good mother,
spouse, friend, daughter, and
sister. Personal relationships are much
more valuable to me than having my
name on the side of a building or how
much money I have in the bank.
Do you have any valuable life
lessons you’d like to share with
the students?
I feel too young to give out any life
lessons, nor am I qualified, but here
are some quotes that I try to live by:
“No success can compensate for failure
in the home.” (David O. McKay)
“Decide. Commit. Succeed.”
“Life is too sweet to be bitter.”
“If you obey all the rules, you miss all
the fun.” (Katherine Hepburn)
“Obstacles are those frightening things
that become visible when we take our
eyes off our goals.” (Henry Ford)
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P SYCH - OUT !
P AGE 6
I NSIDE J OKES
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T HE P SYCH -O UT T EAM
UPCOMING SEMINARS BY PSA
•
•
•
•
CONTRIBUTORS
Experimental psychology
Clinical psychology
What happens after PSY100
Grad school
WHAT IS PSA?
Our goal is to broaden students’
participation in the life of the
Psychology Department and the
University beyond the classroom.
100 St. George St. #509
Sidney Smith Hall
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 978-6762
[email protected]
http://psych.utoronto.ca/~psa
CONTACT US
Some of our organization’s purposes:
• liaison between staff and students
• information service about the
department, graduate schools,
and anything psychology related
• small test and calendar library
CREATIVE CONSULTANTS
Merike Andre-Barrett
Jacky Choi
Nora Sellers
Vivien Wong
Marina Mikhaelian
Kenny Leung
Tamara Ferguson
Jacky Choi
CO-EDITORS
Merike AndreBarrett
Michelle Nguyen
THE BIG BOSS
Diana Chen
Jessica Hyun
CALLING FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR PSYCH-OUT!
Kathryn Choi
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Psych-Out! is a creative outlet for psych students. We are looking for any pieces of
writing (personal opinions, reviews, current events) or art (drawings, photographs,
cartoons) related to psychology. Send submissions to: [email protected]
Copies of Psych Out! are available each month in the PSA office (SS509).