Sofia Balali SUNY graduate, Junior Lecturer University of Amsterdam, PhD Candidate Behavior Design Lab UoC, Behavior Change Consultant

As an alumni I would advise you one thing; pursue the career of your dreams and if it does not even exist as a proper job, then create it. Let me narrate briefly how I made this work out for me and how my BSc in Psychology from SUNY helped me build my own success story.

I decided to study Psychology when I was already pursuing another degree in Italian Language and Literature and working as a Language Tutor. I had an AHA! moment, a moment that changed my career 180 degrees. I started wondering how the human brain learns and how we can learn better, faster and more effectively. And then I started wondering how the brain perceives poems, literature, why do humans have an affinity for arts? And I knew the answer was lying somewhere between psychology, biology and philosophy.

For this reason I decided to pursue a degree where I could choose the courses that could help me answer my questions. Since I was familiar with NYC and the flexibility it allows in designing your undergraduate path, the excellent infrastructure and support it provided to the students (my brother had already graduated from NYC as well) I enrolled. I was properly guided to enroll into courses close to my interests and that could allow me to pursue a master's degree relevant to my interests. The constant support of the professors and the academic staff, as well as my deep involvement and my passion for excellence led to my cum laude graduation and a number of doors opening in Greece and abroad.

One thing led to another and I found myself in the Netherlands, studying Applied Cognitive Psychology and Interdisciplinary research and training in multiple things like UX, Cognitive Biases, Programming, and cutting-edge approaches of Behavior.

Currently, I try to juggle multiple things that I am passionate about. I work as a Junior Lecturer at the University of Amsterdam, teaching Interdisciplinary Research to the students of the masters "Brain and Cognition", I am a PhD Candidate at the Open University of Catalunya(UoC) and I run my own business called Wellness Improved, where I provide services as a Health Coach, Team Facilitator and Consultant in Behavior Change and Habits. The innovative approach of NYC of building valuable skills such as presentation skills, collaboration, and hard skills such as research and statistics has allowed me to navigate both business and academia with great success and my background in Psychology has been proven helpful not only in understanding behavior but also in improving the way I deliver my services.

There have been various moments that I will never forget but one of the moments that remains deeply ingrained is the first class I attended in “Introduction to Psychology” when we started discussing the structure  of the brain and the neurons. It was like a new micro-world unfolding in front of me.

So my revised advice after looking back to my path? Never try to put yourself into a box and understand that all skills are transferable, even the smallest thing you consider to be just a small strength can be an asset. Psychology is not just about therapy and counseling. Psychology is everywhere, from learning, to training, to opening your laptop, to ordering your take away. Absorb as much information as you can and try to connect the dots.