when in your life did you know you wanted to be a psychologist and why?

Hi Tyler,
I like this question…see... you're already asking things to make people think…like a true psychologist already ;)

I am not a psychologist, I am a counselor, but many people confuse the two and by default think they're the same thing. I maintained this confusion myself until I was in Grad School…but until that point I always wanted to be a psychologist.

When I was 6, and at the grocery store with my Mom, the lady checking us out leaned down to me and asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I remember this moment so vividly, I also remember looking up at her and stating, "A child psychologist!" The woman turned to my mother and replied, "How does she know what that is?"

I'll never forget it. I din't know how I knew that but it has always been a piece of me. As I grew I got away from that childhood dream and entered the business world, which is where I spent the first 15 years of my working life. At 30 I decided to go back to college and struggled choosing between Nutrition or Education. I opted not to study psychology at that time; not because I wasn't interested in the field anymore but because I was riddled with self doubt and insecurities. Quite frankly I didn't believe I was capable, or good enough, or smart enough…or whatever you'd like to call it…that was until I had an interaction with a stranger named Paul. Meeting Paul was a turning point in my life that put me on the path I'm on today. While having lunch with my husband at a local diner I was verbally attacked by a very irate, very drunk, very offensive, very hostile Paul. For some reason he wanted to pick a fight with me in that diner that day. After being confronted by my waiter for verbally attacking me (from his seat) he proceeded to approach my table, my husband responded by getting up and getting in Paul's face and the waiter responded by having Paul removed from the restaurant. I went back to my lunch and a few minutes later Paul reappeared table side angrier than ever. Before my husband could get up, I did. I got right up, eye to eye, and gently said, "You don't know me so you can't possibly be this angry over something I did. I think I probably remind you of someone who has hurt you and seeing me makes you think about all of that." Paul responded by breaking into tears. He turned on his heel and walked out of the restaurant. When my husband and I left Paul was in the parking lot and again he wanted to confront me…only this time he apologized and said, "You were right in there." I asked him to tell me his story and we spent 45 mins having that conversation. When we were done he asked me if he could hug me and told me this moment was life changing. It was through this experience that my passion for helping people was reignited. I didn't understand how or why I knew to interact with him the way I did but I knew that something beautiful had occurred. Not only was the moment life changing for him but it was for me as well. I changed my major the next semester and am happy to report that I am fulfilling my childhood dream by working as a counselor with traumatized teens.