At NLU, we want our students to use their education not just as a means to earning a degree, but as a stepping stone to fulfilling personal dreams and goals. Lily Sarfaraz is one student who’s doing just that. Lily’s currently working on her Doctorate of Psychology at the Florida School of Professional Psychology at NLU’s Tampa location, but she already has a clear vision of what she wants to do after graduation:
“My future career would allow me to honor those who have served in our nation’s military by bringing awareness to issues that are often overlooked and providing individualized mental health care to veterans within our community. This would entail bridging the gap in healthcare disparities, promoting a veteran healthcare system that continuously evaluates its practices, advocating for an understanding of diverse individuals, and ensuring no veteran is ever left behind.”
Lily has been focused on helping others from the start of her degree. She says she chose to pursue her doctorate in clinical psychology at NLU because of the shared values between her and the University:
“I felt National Louis University’s values embody those which fall in line with my career goals. I strive to use my education towards uplifting others and providing services that will improve their chances of reaching their full potential, regardless of where they stand in life and what circumstances they’re looking to overcome.”
How specifically is NLU helping her to become an advocate for others? Lily says being able to interact with faculty who are real-world experts in the psychology field has helped her develop a fuller understanding of her role as a future psychologist:
“National Louis University has aided my goal by bringing on diverse faculty and Student Disability and Access Services advocates who are experts in our field, and use their knowledge, empathy, and support to provide a well-rounded, real-world understanding of the issues we will tackle as future psychologists.”
Lily admits that the path toward her degree and her career hasn’t always been easy, though, and that she had to learn how to be an advocate for herself as much as others:
“The biggest obstacle I’ve had to overcome involved navigating the hurdles of balancing a student life while also engaging in self-care in order to maintain a full cup that I can pour from for my clients. When I was faced with unexpected health complications, I contemplated putting my education on hold. I’m glad I reached out for help, and I ended up receiving immense support from the staff at NLU. I learned that you are your biggest advocate.”
Lily has preserved through a lot on her journey toward her doctorate degree, and her advice to fellow students is to continue on, even if the results don’t come right away:
“Trust the process, impossible as it may seem! Perseverance has become a strength of mine, so long as I have put forth my best effort.”
For more information on our doctorate of psychology program, visit NLU’s College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences. You can view all of our undergraduate degrees. Talk to an Enrollment Specialist at enrollment@nl.edu or call 888.658.8632 to discuss your educational and career goals.
Original source can be found here.
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