This psychology graduate took an alternate path to realizing her dream, Featured Parenting and Education News and Stories



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When she was in college, Ms. Yuvarthana Krishnan dreamed of studying psychology in college and using her skills to help others as a social worker. He did not get the course he wanted at a local university, but he was not intimidated. He researched and explored psychology programs at other Singapore universities before finally settling on James Cook University (JCU).

“I found out that JCU offers psychology courses that fit my requirements,” says the 23-year-old.

JCU’s presence in Singapore, which has its own campus on Sims Drive, is also an attraction. Ms. Yuvarthana has always wanted to complete her studies locally so that she can be with her loved ones. “Studying locally would also result in less financial pressure on my parents than studying abroad,” he adds.

Another major advantage for her was that in Singapore, JCU was also awarded the EduTrust Star award by the Private Education Committee, an agency of SkillsFuture Singapore, indicating a high level of quality assurance.

A comprehensive program

In 2016, Ms. Yuvarthana enrolled in JCU’s Bachelor of Psychology Studies program. She found the program very comprehensive and during the course of her undergraduate degree, Ms. Yuvarthana delved into the scientific study of psychology.

The modules in the program covered most of the skills she wanted to acquire. One of them was social psychology, the scientific study of how the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals are influenced by the real, imagined and implicit presence of others. “What I learned has significantly helped me to manage my personal adversities and has given me a greater understanding of how and why people express themselves the way they do,” says Ms. Yuvarthana.


Ms. Yuvarthana’s visits to the Mental Health Institute as a volunteer helped her understand the importance of being open-minded and empathetic. PHOTO: WEE TY

In addition to completing the degree program, another highlight was Ms. Yuvarthana’s active participation in a volunteer program at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). These programs, developed by JCU, aim to give its students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and gain the practical experiences necessary to excel in a career.

As part of the volunteer program, Ms. Yuvarthana and her fellow JCU students made weekly trips to the IMH, where they spent three hours interacting with patients. “These visits really made me understand the importance of being open-minded and empathetic with the people around us,” she says.

Solve problems with patience

Ms. Yuvarthana’s knowledge of the field of psychology, along with the practical experiences she gained at JCU, helped her prepare for her current position as a Crisis Response Specialist at Airbnb.

Yuvarthana got the job in 2019 through LinkedIn. “After several rounds of interviews, I got the job. During the interviews, I showed core values ​​and skills that matched those of Airbnb and the position I applied for. This included the ability to understand and respond to various crises, ”he says.

Ms. Yuvarthana’s role is to assist hosts and guests with the issues they face during their stays and experiences, fact-checking for effective case resolution, and processing any follow-up claims.

“With my counseling skills and my knowledge of psychology, I can handle each unique situation with utmost ease. The most important thing is that I have the ability to listen and understand their problems without imposing my personal values ​​and beliefs, ”he says.

Ms. Yuvarthana attributes her good training in psychology to her teachers at JCU. She is particularly grateful to the lead teacher, Dr. Smita Singh, who taught her for a couple of modules. “She never stopped listening to me whenever I had trouble completing a project or task. Every lecture and tutorial with her was lively and engaging. There was always a personal touch with every theory he presented to us and I was always looking forward to his lessons, ”says Ms. Yuvarthana.

Ms. Yuvarthana hopes her story will inspire other A-level students to keep track of their goals, even if there are obstacles in their way, and to seek alternative paths to their dreams.

In the future, he also hopes to participate in global efforts to help disadvantaged groups meet their basic needs and subsequently expand their life chances.

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