About me
Hello, I'm Dhea, an A-level graduate from Yishun Innova Junior College. I am a curious student who is fascinated by the human mind and is keen on pursuing Psychology as a degree. My interest in Psychology started when my younger brother had to go for speech therapy due to language delay. However, many other factors have made my love for Psychology blossom (more in the section below).
Through this portfolio, I will be showcasing:
- My skills
- My interest in Psychology
- Co-Curricular Activity (Information)
- Work Experience (Information)
- Achievements (Information)
MY SKILLS
Empathy
Critical thinking
Organisation
Leadership
Interpersonal
MY INTEREST IN PSYCHOLOGY
The beginning
This is me and my younger brother back in 2008. While I was clueless about the outside world, there was one thing that I was curious about for sure - why my brother had difficulty understanding and expressing himself properly. He was 2 years old at the time and was unable to articulate even simple phrases. Hence, he had to see a Psychologist once a month at KKH because he could not talk much and had no friends. As a result, he had to go for Speech Therapy once a week until he was 8 years old. I wondered why - but as I grew older, I learned from my parents that my brother has Language Delay. As a curious child, I asked my parents, "What is Speech Therapy? How does it help with Language Delay?". As I started learning more about my brother's condition, my interest in Psychology slowly started to grow.
Mental Health
Despite society becoming increasingly educated in the 21st century, there is still stigmatisation regarding mental health such as how individuals suffering from mental health are "crazy", or that they lack personal strength. Ultimately, the stigma surrounding mental health can deter such individuals from seeking the necessary aid they need. However, if we were to be more understanding and empathetic, we would understand that these individuals are still normal functioning humans despite their illness and that they just need professional help. Hence, I want to gain more knowledge in the field of Psychology so that I can better understand these individuals struggling with mental health.
Psychological First Aid
In 2023, I took up a Psychological First Aid course by the Singapore Emergency Response Academy. The course equips me with ample knowledge in recognising the warning signs of suicide, signs of stress and how to deal with it. With the knowledge I gained through this course, I can provide support to adults who have gone through traumatic events and refer them to professional counsellors. While I have acquired a bit of knowledge in providing support to such individuals, I would love to expand my horizons and gain more skills so that I can provide them with the quality support that they need. I believe that supporting these individuals goes beyond providing help - it is also about understanding why they behave a certain way and what has triggered their mental health.
Environmental exposure
As an introspective person, I realised how my surroundings play an integral role in moulding the person I am today. While it is simple to say that the environment we inhabit affects our behaviour and thinking, it is much more complex as there are other possible factors contributing to the way we behave, not just environmental triggers. For instance, our childhood - how we were raised can greatly shape our character as we grow older. Therefore, I wish to break down these complexities so that I can understand myself and the people around me better.
Realisation
Through my everyday experience, I realised how Psychology can also be applied everywhere. It does not entirely revolve around mental health alone. It also revolves around how people behave, react and cope based on different circumstances. From studying how work culture influences a company's productivity and efficiency, and how to manage human resources to how athletic performance is affected by different psychological factors, psychology is essential in our day-to-day. Thus, the psychological skills gained will enable us to develop and grow as we understand what helps to optimise our potential and performance.