Mellissa McPhee

Programs	Psychology Major
Class	2022
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Vermont

Favorite Class

Positive Psychology

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve found about your experience at Champlain so far?

The most surprising thing that I’ve found about Champlain that I wasn’t expecting is this tight knit sense of friendship. Although Champlain is a relatively small school, there are always more people to meet, and always someone who can connect you to a new source of friend groups. Something that is still fun to recognize for me is the fact that everyone is friends with everyone. There’s an open-ended sense of friendship, and this allows for so many experiences to be had and so many people to connect with in the time you’re here.

What is your favorite class you’ve taken at Champlain? What made it special?

My favorite class, although there are so many to choose from, would have to be Positive Psychology with Professor Quinn. Aside from her absolutely flawless execution of humor and energy, she truly is very uplifting and encouraging to her students. This made the class even more enjoyable as we focused on the habDivision of Information Technology & Sciences that we formed with ourselves, the way that we speak to ourselves, and how to change our circumstances to a more positive way of thinking. We practiced activities like affirmations, gratitude journaling (still something I use every morning), and the power of creative writing. This class allowed me to grow so much within the short semester, and really gave me the confidence I needed within myself to move forward in my education. Overall, this course taught me so much about the world around me and, most importantly, the ability that I carry within the world.

Have you worked on-campus in either a part-time or work-study position? What relevant life skills have you learned?

I worked at King Street Center my second year here at Champlain as a work-study and absolutely adored my role as an America Reads Tutor. Working one-on-one with students every day allowed me to make personal connections, the children to feel supported and encouraged, and gave me a great deal of purpose at the time. From this experience, I have learned the importance of feeling valued and supported as well as the further assistance that goes into a child’s education. More so, the ability to truly listen and provide support to engage and really connect with those who need this extra care.

Melissa McPhee — **Mellissa McPhee**, Class of 2022

More Student in Psychology Major

Gabby Ashley

Class of 2021

Computer & Digital Forensics Minor and Psychology Major

Evan Goldstein

Class of 2021

Global Studies Minor and Psychology Major

Gabby Ashley

Class of 2021

Programs	Psychology Major
Class	2021
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	New Hampshire

What do you like about your program?

The professors in the Psychology major are all some of the smartest and most kind people I have ever met. Every psych class I have taken has taught me so much about myself and the world around me. The Advanced Research course gave me the opportunity to design and create something that I wanted to do, and something that made me proud of myself and how much I’ve learned in my major. It was probably my favorite class I’ve ever taken at Champlain.

Tell us about your internship!

I did a remote internship in Fall 2020, and it ended up being something entirely unique! I created a documentary about my research project for my Advanced Research class. I interviewed friends that went to Champlain and others who had suffered from impostor syndrome. This was an entirely unique experience and something that my advisor and the people at Career Collaborative advocated for me to do!

In what ways do you think your classroom work prepared you for your internship, and how will these experiences give you a competitive advantage in your field after graduation?

Interviewing my friends and being sensitive about their insecurities was something I had to handle when talking with them about how they felt like impostors. Being able to have a level of empathy with people is important, especially if they are your friends.I think by showing my flexibility and creative thinking, I will be able to stand out compared to others in my field because I was able to create something in a unique environment-especially since I had no formal education in filmmaking when making the documentary.

Evan Goldstein

Class of 2021

Programs	Psychology Major
Class	2021
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	New Jersey
Study Abroad	Shanghai, China and Dublin, Ireland

Internship

Learning and Development Intern at Capgemini in Shanghai, China

Favorite Class

Abnormal Psychology

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve found about Champlain?

The most surprising thing I have found at Champlain is how easy it is to start a new club. When I was a first-year, I began an a capella group called The Burlingtones. After gauging student interest, filling out the required forms, and getting a faculty advisor, I was able to continue my passion for a capella and singing very quickly. You can create a club for anything, really.

Tell us about your internships!

At Capgemini, I was a member of the Learning and Development Team in the Human Resources department. I designed and hosted English Corners, where I presented PowerPoint presentations about various topics that could benefit coworkers. I helped colleagues enrich their English proficiency through these workshops, as well as through small group sessions with executives. I had the opportunity to display and enhance my creativity, communication skills, and leaderships skills through these initiatives.At the Migrant Access Programme, I was an assistant to the various teachers at the non-profit school. I assisted teachers with academic classes and helped students acclimate to Irish culture. I worked with refugees and asylum seekers from Africa, Latin America, and Europe to help them adjust to changes and challenges after immigrating to Ireland. I was able to work with students from unique cultural backgrounds and enhanced my leadership and interpersonal communication skills through group conversations and presentations.At the Salvation Army, I was an intern who mainly worked with teenagers during teen nights. I supervised and engaged teenagers in education and community enrichment programs like talking about bias and diversity. I got the opportunity to work with individuals I might be interested in working with in my future professional career, and was a positive role model to the teens.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in? What do you do/why do you enjoy them?

I perform at The Grind every Tuesday. I either choose to sing, beatbox, or read a piece of literature in an open mic setting. I enjoy how the atmosphere is very welcoming and nonjudgmental. Anyone can perform whatever they wish to perform.. It is great to be able to sing and to listen to the talent of others.

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