Kelechi Nnaji

Why FSU?

I choose to attend FSU after meeting with one of the faculty members in my program and getting the sense that I would be well-supported. Additionally, I was intrigued by the uniqueness of the combined program and wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to get dual training in both counseling and school psychology.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

My career aspiration is to become a psychologist which requires that one obtain a doctoral degree; thus, I sought out graduate education in pursuit of my career goal. Additionally, I desire to become an expert in my field, and I believe that achieving that required me to obtain the highest level of education I could in my field to complement my clinical experience and build upon my (continually developing) expertise.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

My research interests focus on the intersection of career and mental health. This area of research is particularly important in light of increasing mental health concerns among the college student population. Given that career development is a large part of this stage of life, I feel that is important to investigate how it overlaps with the psychological well-being of college students and how findings may inform mental health and career counseling practice. Studies to date have evidenced significant finding regarding this intersection and I am sure there is more to explore.

Career aspirations

My career aspiration is to become a Licensed Psychologist and develop expertise in the field. Since beginning my graduate program, my options knowledge has expanded, and I am continuing to narrow down the type of setting I would like to work in upon graduation. I have interest in both counseling and assessment and desire to continue building and utilizing my skillset in both practices in service to young and older adults.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

I would remind prospective students that as much as programs are looking for students who meet certain standards, it's also important to consider if you're going to get what you need or are looking for out of a program. When you know you are going to be motivated to learn and are making progress towards your goals, you may have an easier time pushing through challenging moments and enjoy the experience more overall!

Accomplishments during graduate career

Completing my first national and international conference presentations and my first independent research study and finding statistically significant results. Also, I have accomplished following awards and scholarships:

FSU Reardon Fellowship, FSU Driver Fellowship, FSU Peterson Fellowship, CBC Spouses Education Scholarship