Amanda Kim

CNS 220 - Informational Interview #2

Ironically, I spoke with Ms. Snyder on the phone during the School of Psychology Awareness
Week on Wednesday, November 12th at 3pm. I connected with her through Linked INs Wake
Forest Alumni group.
Ms. Snyder entered Wake Forest University intending to go to medical school one day.
However, she quickly figured out that the medical field wasnt for her. As a result, she began to
explore different areas in the hope of figuring out what she wanted to replace her dream of
medical school with. It wasnt until she took Dean Buchanans class, that she realized she
wanted to major in Psychology. All it took was one child development class on parent-child
relationships for her to find her new path. After college, she was able to get a job due to her
extensive experience in psychological research. Her first job involved doing research for a nonprofit. She then worked in market research before she decided to go back to school. She earned a
masters degree in school psychology, and began her career as a school psychologist.
Having done some prior research, I asked her to explain the difference between school and
educational psychology graduate school. I was surprised when she told me it depends on the
graduation program. Some programs view school and educational psychology as the same while
others tend to believe that school psychology in a blend of counseling and special education
across the schooling age group, and that educational psychology is more grounded in psychology
at the college level.
The most helpful In order to be successful advice that she gave me was discussed when I
spoke to her about my fear of feeling as if I wasnt making a big enough difference. Ms. Snyder
explained that there is a balance between needing to accomplish work versus wanting to do so.
The job of a school psychologist comes with the idea that there is no ending point. Sometimes,
its hard to feel like you did a significantly good job, especially with the perfectionist mindset of
the typical Wake Forest student. There is constantly more to do. So, you have to learn to
prioritize. Sometimes the best you can do it to accomplish what needs to get done, even if you
ideally wanted to do more. She stressed the importance of self-care, particularly for individuals
within helping professions such as a school psychologist. Without it, I can see how it might be
easy to burn out. This caused me to hesitate slightly. Like teaching, it seems as if being a school
psychologist is really difficult for those who care. So, I think it is important that I am realistic
about the impact I can make. Maybe this career path isnt for me.
When I asked Ms. Snyder about the flexibility of her job, and if having the summers off was
nice, I was surprised by her answer. Yes, her job does have flexibility in that she can dictate
exactly how she spends her time between the three schools in which she is responsible for.
However, the fact that she thinks she would be happier if she worked year round really surprised
me. Because she has the summer off, it isnt uncommon for her to work a twelve-hour day. I
never imagined that having a summer vacation could have its consequences.
I was also intrigued when she brought up retirement benefits. I had completely forgotten about
such benefits, and was reminded that I need to make sure my future job has really good health
insurance due to my sleeping disorder. So, our conversation not only added this aspect to my list

Amanda Kim
of things to research, but it also brought up the fact that Ms. Snyder doesnt see herself being a
school psychologist for the rest of her life. She explained that there are structural issues within
the education system. As a recent graduate trained in all of the latest techniques and updated on
all of the latest research, she couldnt help but see the flaws of the system. Professionals within
the school system tend to couple behavioral health with mental health. As a result, they send
struggling children to her, the school psychologist, so that she can fix them. They dont even
stop to consider that perhaps it is the environment in which the child is forced to learn that is the
problem. Everyone learns differently. This fact has been backed time and time again by research,
but schools still insist on teaching everyone the exact same way. As a result, Ms. Snyder plans to
eventual move on to research. She hopes to provide research that can in turn back the
information used to change the practice from reactive to preventative. How do we prevent
students from struggling? Fascinated, I asked Ms. Snyder where I could find more information
about this issue. She suggested I go to NASPonline.org, the National Association of School
Psychologists. This website has tons of resources and is great at inspiring school psychologists.
Will further research cause me to seek a different career or will it spark a determination to
change things?
Before I got to my question about any advice she wish she had had when she was in my shoes,
she offered an answer. She emphasized that taking advantage of the research opportunities here
at Wake Forest University was crucial to her success. Undergraduate research experience heavily
impacts employment. With her being the second person to urge me to get into research as soon as
possible I decided to send Eranda Jayawickreme an e-mail disclosing my interest in his research,
and asking for the opportunity to learn more about his research. Little did I realize that he would
respond relatively quickly inviting me to join the next lab meeting! I went to this meeting this
afternoon, and loved every minute of it. He plans on scheduling a meeting with me and one other
sophomore regarding whether or not we are interested in joining the research group this spring! I
am excited to include my new research opportunity in my thank you note to Dr. Eads and Ms.
Snyder. I also plan to investigate studying abroad opportunities. Ms. Snyder made sure to tell me
that studying abroad is something no one ever regrets. In fact, Professor Isler, my third
informational interviewee confessed that not studying abroad is her only undergraduate regret.
At a young age, I was told to apply other peoples corrections to my own dancing even if the
constructive criticism wasnt pointed in my direction. Similarly, I was also taught to take
advantage of learning from other peoples mistakes. So, now there is no way I will allow myself
to graduate without studying abroad.
It was really nice to speak with another Wake Forest Alumni with whom I could relate to. I even
found out that she was also a dancer, accustomed to the perfectionist mindset that is only further
driven into our personalities as a Wake Forest student. She emphasized how important it was for
her to understand her need to constantly improve. There is nothing wrong with such a mindset, as
long as perfection is not the end goal. There is no point in setting oneself up for failure. We are
only human.
Ms. Snyder suggested that I speak with Dean Buchanan, and Dr. Jennings. Having already
personally experience only positive interactions with Dean Buchanan previously, I made sure to
make an appointment with her. In fact, I e-mailed her asking not for advice, but if I could meet

Amanda Kim
with her to conduct an informational interview. It is scheduled for when we return from
Thanksgiving break, and I am already excited to hear what she has to say.
From having all of these informational interviews, I have officially decided to no longer pursue
PA school. I am so excited about my future now, even though I still have no idea what I want to
do within the field of psychology. I just love learning from other people, and exploring subjects I
wouldnt have been able to with the rigorous course load of a future PA school student. I
dropped my General Chemistry 2 class and lab in exchange for an Introduction to Computer
Science class and the Movement and Molecular class I wanted to take the first semester of my
freshman year. For the first time in my life, I like having options and the opportunity to test the
waters. For once, I dont feel like I have to know the answers to every aspect of the next five
years of my life. Perhaps narcolepsy with cataplexy was a blessing in disguise, forcing me to
explore options outside of the medical field. It allowed me to realize that I want to help shape
other peoples lives personally. I want to do more than diagnose and prescribe medicine. I want
to enhance wellbeing, and help others to achieve a more holistic idea of what it means to be
successful and happy.