Completing the fall courses has been an incredible culmination of my academic journey, especially as I wrap up the last courses for my concentration after conquering all the requirements for my minor in criminal justice. The array of courses I've immersed myself in has been both eye-opening and enriching, shaping my comprehension of the complexities within these intertwined fields. From delving into the "Sociology of Crime and Violence" to dissecting the intricacies of the "U.S. Judicial System" and exploring the critical dimensions of "Discretion in Criminal Justice," each course has been a stepping stone toward a more comprehensive understanding of the intricate web that defines the world of law and justice. Currently engrossed in "Adolescent Development" and "Disorders of Child/Adolescents," these courses have been particularly fulfilling, aligning perfectly with my passion for understanding the psychological intricacies of young minds. These insights have been invaluable as I work toward my psychology degree with a concentration in child and adolescent development, complemented by a minor in criminal justice. Knowing I'll graduate in 2024 is an exhilarating prospect, a testament to the dedication and hard work that has gone into this journey. This achievement is incredibly meaningful to me, made possible by the support of MVYouth scholarship that has been instrumental in realizing this dream. Four years of balancing a full-time job with full-time online studies at SNHU have been challenging, but they've also been incredibly rewarding. As I reflect on this journey, I'm immensely proud of how far I've come and feel prepared for the next chapter post-graduation. Looking forward, my aspirations extend beyond earning a bachelor's degree. I'm fueled by the ambition to pursue a master's degree, driven by the passion and commitment that have guided me thus far. These years have been a testament to dedication, and they've only fueled my hunger for more knowledge and deeper exploration in the field I'm passionate about.
Stephany Ribeiro - Southern New Hampshire University
This fall semester I learned many things from my courses. I have to say that the courses become harder with each new semester; however, I am still able to complete them. My favorite courses were Cognition, Theories of Personalities, and Theories of Social Psychology. These three courses were very challenging, but I enjoyed every part of the experience. Everything was fascinating to me. I wanted to understand the human mind, all the personality traits we have, and how individuals behave in a group.
This semester the courses that I took provided a sense of what could be my concentration. Next semester I will be adding a mental health concentration to my psychology major and criminal justice minor. Adding the mental health concentration will allow me to learn more about human behaviors and gain knowledge in clinical areas, such as counseling techniques and psychological testing. I feel very confident and satisfied with the online platform that this university has. At SNHU they provide free online tutoring for all their online students, which I think is a very helpful tool for an online platform. I can communicate with my professors, even just through emails, and they promptly respond and help me.
A highlight of my fall semester is that I began to work in the Island Counseling Services at MV Community Services. I am the administrative assistant. Being in this workplace is helping me be more involved with psychology and its various branches. This job is also helping me internalize all the psychological vocabulary; I am able to understand and learn more about this vocabulary, and apply it to my coursework. It has been an interesting, and fulfilling fall semester. I believe that throughout each semester I have been narrowing the direction and walking towards my future career.
Stephany Ribeiro - Southern New Hampshire University
My fall semester went well. This year I made the decision to transfer to an online school, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). After spending last year’s fall semester in my dorm room at Western New England worrying about covid exposures and my family’s well being on the island, I realized that I could save money by living on the island and taking on-line courses from Western New England. I successfully navigated the spring semester, but Western New England is not meant to be an on-line experience. After much thought and investigation into my options, I decided to make the switch to Southern New Hampshire University. The process of transferring was surprisingly easy. At SNHU I am able to set my own studying schedule, which allows me to work as well. In addition, all the homework is accessible and very engaging.
As I was mulling over my transfer, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to change my major as well. I still love Criminal Justice and hope to combine that with my new major: Psychology. I had taken Intro to Psychology at Western New England University and found it fascinating. I have always had an interest in knowing more about human behaviors. I took that class and felt that I could overlap my criminal justice path with a psychology degree. Therefore, I will be majoring in psychology with a criminal justice minor.
This semester, three courses really stand out for me. The first is Perspectives in the Humanities, which concentrated on helping students to understand individuals as human beings, rational animals. Human beings create different cultures based upon their beliefs. Perspectives in History focused on the various perspectives (economical, political, social, etc.) that can be used to look at historical events and ideas. In addition, I was required to take Statistics, which I discovered plays an important role in psychology. Psychology relies on statistical research to test hypotheses and present data in ways that are easier to understand. I am looking forward to continuing my studies and exploring the career possibilities in Psychology & Criminal Justice.
Stephany Ribeiro - Western New England University
My first semester at Western New England University was challenging yet worth every day I spent there. The pandemic made life at college a little surreal. I don’t think I have ever spent so much time doing homework. I was actually glad to be away from home so I could really focus on doing my best work and getting the most out of my classes. I did make friends and get to meet other students who were in the same major as me. My favorite class was Intro to Criminal Justice. We spent all class learning about the different parts of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, courts and corrections. There’s so much more to criminal justice than just the police. It opened my eyes to all the career possibilities that are out there in the field. It made me fall in love with criminal justice all over again. In addition to classes, I also joined the U & Me club. It is part of the bigger Diversity Club. It is open to everyone who considers themselves a member of a minority group. The club provides students with mentors who help them feel a part of the University. My mentor was Nashali. She’s from Puerto Rico. I feel like this club is so important to help students who are diverse feel like they belong. I want to be a mentor someday. Even though I spent most of my weekends traveling back to the island as I tried to complete the Police Academy training that had been interrupted by the pandemic, my first semester was definitely worth all the hard work because I feel like I am more mature, more open to new things. It showed me the path to my future. It kept my focus on why I was going to school -- to eventually become a criminal justice professional who has the knowledge and skills to make my community a better place. I am grateful every day for this scholarship, because without it, I would not be able to concentrate so much on my studies or I might not have been able to attend Western New England University at all. Thank you.