Combining Passions for Psychology and Labour Relations: My Journey to Organizational Psychology

Exploring My Interests

My family had expected me to join them in our family construction business for a decade, and while spending time with my father in his office and occasionally joining him for meetings did provide me with some basic knowledge and piqued my interest in the effect of social groups and well-being on the workforce, but I also had a passion for Psychology. Conflicted between the two paths in front of me, I decided to pursue Psychology for my undergraduate degree, which led me to believe that doing so would mean leaving behind my interest in learning about the industries and the well-being of workforce. Eventually, with the help of my professors and extracurricular activities, I learned about organizational psychology, which allowed me to pursue both of my interests and be able to find the answers that would allow me to conduct research and test policies in the workplace to see if they had an impact on the well-being of the workforce.

I was able to participate in numerous laboratories at the University of Toronto, Mississauga. I am a research assistant in Dr. Ulrich Schimmack’s replicability lab, where I code to assess the significance of the data for the Journal of Organizational Behavior, which includes topics like work motivation and workplace social networks. That was the start of my interest in the study of social groups and workplace relationships. Additionally, I work as a research assistant in Dr. Erika Carlson's lab, where I help code participants' meta-accuracy responses. Because of the coding of replies, I saw that numerous people describe their personality traits via the eyes of their coworkers. Moreover, I work as a crisis responder with Kids Help Phone Canada, which has allowed me to strengthen my research abilities for finding resources and managing confidential information. The influence of job happiness and workplace relationships on texters' mental health piqued my interest, which made me passionate about finding ways to explore workplace relationships better. My time in the replicability lab introduced me to new concepts, but my time in Dr. Carlson's lab and as a crisis responder demonstrated how those themes are used in real life. As a result, these encounters sparked my interest in organizational psychology and demonstrated how I might combine my passions for psychology and labour relations.

In 2018, I graduated from Pathways World School with an International Baccalaureate diploma and began my bachelor's degree in psychology specialist and sociology major at the University of Toronto, Mississauga (UTM). The institution offered me with numerous opportunities to participate in student-held organizations such as BossWomen, PsychTalks, and Wellness Ambassador for the Health and Counselling Center, which allowed me meet new people and expose me to a diverse culture. The country's warm welcome helped me be more open to different perspectives, work better in a team, and adjust to Canada's new unsaid norms, culminating in a desire to establish a future in the country.

My first year of university was full of new experiences, but my academic achievement was not stellar. Not only did I have to adjust to Canadian conventions, but I also had to modify my learning method in the classroom. Aside from adjusting to a new university, I was also attempting to figure out who I was in the nation, which impacted my grades. As I settled in, I developed more active learning habits, and received assistance from my lecturers my grades improved. Therefore, my persistency and adaptable persona makes me a good fit for the diverse community in Western university.

Coming from India and a first-generation graduate in my family has resulted in some perplexing and frightening experiences. I have been confused about the path I needed to follow to achieve my objectives or whom to contact for the information I needed. In other instances, I had had to deal with my family's displeasure when I chose not to pursue the typical South Asian girl's route. All my difficulties, however, have taught me the value of hard effort and self-resilience. Furthermore, focusing on psychology and engaging in various extracurricular activities have enabled me to acquire time management skills and form relationships that will help me operate in a competitive and high-pressure atmosphere. As a result, I am confident that the university's various communities will welcome me as one of their own and that I will receive and offer assistance to my classmates and the community.

After earning a master's degree, I plan to continue my studies in the subject of workplace well-being, which will enable me to pursue my long-term objective of testing and recommending new policies on how positive workplace improvements and interpersonal interactions influence the workforce. As a result, studying Industrial/Organizational Psychology under Dr. M. Blair Evans will help me make better job decisions in the future. I believe I have the necessary research, coding, and analysis skills to assist and contribute to Mr. Evans' study. I have worked in numerous laboratories and completed an independent research project. Studying at the Western University of repute will empower me with relevant skills for a dynamic future ahead.