Ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning! It’s a great pleasure for me to invite you to follow this edition by two of our students in psychology. Let’s listen to their experience!
A : Hi Laila,
L : Hi!
A : As you know, I’m here to ask you some questions. Still ok to talk a little bit?
L : Yes, sure!!
A : To start, can you introduce yourself?
L : Well, my name is Amirdine Laila, I am 20 years old and I have just started my first year of Master in Developmental Psychology at the University of Nantes.
How about you? Tell me more about you and your background!
A : As you know, My name is Antoine Rousseau. I am in second year of developmental psychology Master’s. I’m 23 years old, I have been working for 4 years now as an educational assistant in a boarding school for young athletes. I did my entire bachelor’s degree at the University of Nantes.
Why did you choose this particular Master’s degree?
L : Two main reasons made me choose this field :
The First one is that developmental psychology was the branch that I liked the most in my bachelor’s degree especially as I am planning to work with children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Therefore it was the most logical choice to pick up.
The second is rather a personal reason, due to the fact that my little brother has a slight motor issue. I then made this choice thinking about him in particular as well as all the other similar kids in general who are not lucky enough to be properly taken care by professionals in my home country.
I notice that we are both interested in this specialty, so in your opinion, what made you choose it?
A : Well, personally, since the beginning of my studies in psychology I wanted to work with an adolescent audience. So, the choice of the Development Master’s Degree came naturally.
Moreover, the courses offered here corresponded to me, I could check this up during my first year’s Master’s degree but also beforehand thanks to conversations with PEADID Master students during my bachelor’s degree.
During these years, I could focus on developmental psychology through the different lectures. I managed to follow the “Childhood and Adolescence” and “Education” teachings among others. This allowed me to establish my willingness to work with this public, and more particularly with teenagers.
How did you experience the master’s selection?
L : Oh!!The famous selection!! First of all, I found that from the first term of last year, I was already aware of the relevant information, because there was a presentation of the different specialties available and some professors were only talking to us about the severe selection: by giving us percentages of places or requests.
So, I was very hesitant to apply this year or to take a year to think about how I “improve” my file. Afterwards, I tried to find out about the selection process: expectations, things to avoid doing, and so on….. At last, I told myself who doesn’t try anything, has nothing.
Besides, I applied for a few masters apart from the one in Nantes to multiply my chances.
But my goal was really the PEADID one, so I spent all my time preparing the required documents for this application. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever taken so long to write a covering letter in my entire life. After there was no interview, so when it came time to upload the file on internet, I told myself that I had done my best anyway and I did not have to complain. Waiting for the results was so long. When I finally got an answer, I was over joyed.
A : How did you feel about it? Can you tell me about it?
L : I was so anxious from the beginning to the end. I questioned all my choices and I had completely lost interest in the outside world. Fortunately, I wasn’t alone during this experience and my family was there for me, otherwise I would have become a kind of zombie.
But I think you already know about these feelings, do you remember in what state of mind you were at that time?
A : Indeed, I went through this last year, I didn’t get into any of the other masters I had applied for except the one in Nantes.
Fortunately, it was the one I really wanted to join! I had a good experience of the selection process and received a positive response fairly quickly. I was 4th on the waiting list so I was lucky enough not to have to wait too long.
L : And as the end of your master’s degree approaches, how do you intend the continuation? Do you plan to work? Do you want to do complementary training? Or take a year to think about it?
A : Good question, at the moment I am still hesitating. Indeed, I am currently preparing for the National Education Psychologist exam in parallel with my Master 2 because I particularly liked my Master 1 work experience. This way, next January, I will be able to better understand the expectations, the profession, etc…
However, I still don’t know if I really want to become a psychologist for the French National Education system.
L : In my opinion, this is a very good professional project, why are you still hesitating?
A : The fact that I have to do a year of further training as a “trainee National Education Psychologist” is a bit of a hindrance for me, I don’t know if I am ready to continue a year in another city, in training, and if I could afford it.
As I have not yet started my Master 2 internship at the APAJH 44, I am not fixed on the sector in which I aspire to work. I may like this internship very much (I hope so at least), so I could hope to get a job once I am graduated in this structure or a related one.
In any case, I will take the exam this year “just to see” but I also expect a lot from my internship in the second semester, so I will know more about what I will do afterwards as a psychologist.
What do you think of the beginning of the year? Do you like the courses, the expectations or the organization? Does it correspond to the idea you had of it?
L : Erm!! A very special beginning of the year because of the health crisis, but it’s going relatively well at the moment despite the fact that I feel that it’s going to be a long year.
I must try to organize my two semesters as well as I can, to not get overwhelmed with work. However, I like my courses and it’s also been a great pleasure just to be back at the faculty, to walk in,….and to see some of the professors again.
So far, yes, it’s going the way I guessed it would go.
A : I see, it’s a very good thing that things feel this way at the beginning of this year, it bodes well!
Thinking about this, what is your Master’s thesis about ? Do you have an idea of how you are going to carry out this research?
L : Well, my research paper will be part of the general theme of love relationships and emotional regulation in adolescents.
A : Well, I see a little bit, mine deals with love relationships and self-esteem! it’s a really interesting topic, I hope you’ll like it!
L : But do you have any practical advice to give me?
A : What helped me the previous year was really the organization, I think that it allows you to find your way around and not to get lost, because with the courses, revisions, exams, dissertations, it is quickly possible to get lost.
As for me, it has contributed a lot to make everything go well! So that’s my only advice, to be organized!
Well, I wish you to continue your year on this good path, may the courses, the work experience and the exams go well! You’ll see, the Master’s years are beautiful years!
L : Aha, I believe you and I really hope it will be the case. Good luck for the next steps and thank you for your questions, it was a real pleasure.
A : All the pleasure is mine, thank you for the time you allowed me!
Well Good luck to both of you! Let’s now move on the publication of Mr Deluis’diary.