Cynthia Stephenson's personal statement discusses the many changes and life experiences that have shaped her, including her parents' divorce, moving frequently as a child, and experiencing a robbery while working. These experiences have led her to be interested in psychology and helping children. She has worked in various roles assisting youth, including as a group home manager. She is now pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology to allow her to help children and families through a career in social services or counseling.

1. Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio Cynthia Stephenson BA in Psychology, 2011

2. Personal Statement Personal Statement Diversity and change have been a consistent part of my life. A first memory of change was back on a summer evening, when I heard the yelling and argument of my parents. This led to their divorce and the change from a two parent family to a single parent family with my dad raising us. At the age of five we moved all over the wonderful State of Nevada. At least every year it was time to move due to my father’s job. Until I was ten years old then we stayed in Elko, Nevada. As a consequence of growing up with no contact from my mother, I have developed a strong commitment to family balanced with a fierce independence. After high school graduation, I left the ‘cowboy poetry’ town to go to college in the ‘biggest little city’ of Reno. My interest and goal for graduation was elementary education. Three years later, I had to leave college and move back home to help my family. I immediately started working in the juvenile justice system spending one and a half years at juvenile lock-up, and then a year at Nevada Youth Training Center as a group counselor. NYTC is a penal facility for adolescent boys. After learning from a doctor that the cold winter weather was taking a toll on my spine that had been damaged in a car accident I moved to ‘sin city’ Las Vegas to absorb the heat.

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