School Psychology Application Essay

Years ago, I interviewed my father for my Asian American Studies class about the difference between youth in the U.S. and in his native country. He explained that the youth of his generation had “tunnel vision” meaning that they only had one path to success, which was to study hard, go to America, and become a doctor or an engineer. In school, they were taught rote memorization and to recite verbatim from books. Punishment for bad grades was a stern beating with a wooden stick at the front of the class. “In contrast,” he said, “in America, anything is possible because you are given the freedom to think outside of the box and the opportunity to create your own path.”

Today, at a time of great divide within our country, I feel a strong call

I believe that an education from NLU’s School Psychology program will prepare me to join the movement in progressing the field of School Psychology not only in the U.S., but also in my parents’ native Taiwan. 
 

 When I lived in China, I had the opportunity to witness a historical development in China’s commitment to Mental Health reform. While the authoritarian government is often condemned in western media for its human rights violations, China has quietly made strides in the country’s mental health landscape. I had the opportunity to participate in a round table discussion with members of the Shanghai International Mental Health Association (SIMHA), where we discussed the new “686 Project” that detailed China’s systematic plans towards passage of its first national mental health law. The plan has overarching implications for a country that has a huge treatment gap for mental disorders. The project promotes education about mental health, destigmatization of mental disorders, and emphasis on prevention and rehabilitation. Through the 686 project, there will