My name is Kate Thomure and I am a high school student aspiring to attend college to become a psychologist. I have intentions on going to Evangel University to earn my undergraduate degree and then transferring to a graduate university to obtain a doctorate degree in psychology. I am not certain what type of psychologist I am going to become as of now. I am in between a research psychologist, industrial-organizational psychologist, and a child psychologist. I am determined to be a psychologist because of my immense interest in the mind of humans. Put simply, I want to learn as much as I can about how humans operate. If I can understand humans on a deeper level, I can relate to them and help them more effectively. I also want to learn how to be more compassionate towards people, because I believe every person is special, unique, and worthy of love. Every person deserves grace and kindness. I want a job where I can make a difference in the lives of humans by loving them and helping them reclaim joy.
One word that I believe best describes me is loving. I am a warm-hearted, vibrant, caring person who always wants to lend a hand to someone in need. There is nothing I love more than helping people feel loved, valued, and appreciated. There is much darkness and hatred in this world, and if I can help someone feel seen, valued, and treasured, then I will absolutely do that! I want to bring people out of the despair this world can trap them in and show them how loved they are by God.
My favorite hobbies and interests include reading, writing, and volunteering. My favorite book is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I can relate so much to the character Meg in this book because we are both sweet and compassionate, but still struggle with things like vanity and jealousy. My favorite topics to write about include informational and persuasive writing. I also love getting involved in my church. I volunteer at my church’s preschool program every Wednesday and Thursday and volunteer at a local funeral home. Because of the way the loss my father years ago has affected me, I have a desire to help those who are also going through heartbreak, especially those who are affected by suicide the way I was by my father.
The most important lesson I have learned in my lifetime would be that I can’t do life alone. Oftentimes, I deny and resist help from others because of the fear of being a “burden.” After my dad passed away, I tried to just stay joyful and positive in front of other people, but my joy wasn’t genuine. It took me so long to confess that I needed support from others. After confessing this, I felt such a sense of freedom. It is amazing how people really will bend over backwards for you if you confess that you are struggling and need help. I learn how to better serve others through people’s kindness. I am very thankful for the family and friends God has placed in my life to be a light to me and show me how I can be a light to others.
There was a time in my life when one of my friends was deeply struggling with recovering from her grandfather committing suicide. This is something I was directly impacted by when my father commit suicide when I was in third grade. We were reading a book titled The Death of a Salesman, and my friend was having a hard time with this because all she could remember was how her grandfather died in the same way that the main character of the book, Willy Loman, did. I assured my friend that her grandfather’s death was in no way her fault. She started to think that it was by the way that the mother blamed her husband’s suicidal actions on her son. I assured her that her grandfather’s love for her had no boundaries–she was a wonderful person worthy of so much love.
My friend so much appreciated that I was able to empathize with her. I went through an incredibly similar situation and was able to be a light to her by assuring her that she is not alone. I am so thankful for this opportunity to lend a hand to someone in need. The situation I went through when my father passed was by no way easy, but I do know that we go through hard times for a reason: to help those in need.