Psychology student Amy Broadhead was recently accepted into a master’s program for health Psychology at King’s College London in England. The rigorous program combines advanced theoretical learning with hands-on clinical workshops. 

As a nontraditional student, it took Amy quite a while to decide what she wanted to do and where she wanted to attend college. She attended Utah State University after high school but found that it wasn’t quite the right fit. “It took me a few years to decide to go back to university to study psychology,” Amy said. “I was working as a pharmacy technician in Utah County and didn't want to leave, so I transferred my credits to UVU, and I am so glad that I did. It has been a great experience for me.”

Amy decided to major in Psychology because of the challenges she’s faced in her own life. “I have gone through mental health problems and come out on the other side a better person,” she said. “I would like to help further the field of health psychology in the academic field and maybe help other people struggling.” 

While Amy came to UVU with the goal of later going to graduate school, her road to getting there hasn’t been easy. “Being accepted into a graduate program requires a lot of activity outside of the classroom, and I found that quite difficult,” she said. “I worked full-time, attended full-time classes, and participated in a lot of extracurricular events. Somehow, I still found time to push myself out of my comfortable and anxiety-riddled box. I’ve made some good friends through research projects, being a member of the Psychology Club presidency for three years, teaching experiences, and wonderful and supportive professors.”

Amy has loved that UVU is so focused on providing students with a well-rounded and fulfilling education — especially the opportunity to work so closely with professors. “I have needed a little extra help at some points, and I appreciate them for being willing to work with me,” she said. “Cameron John was a great help during my search to figure out which avenue to pursue in the field, in my research, and applying to graduate school. And Chris Anderson was very influential in my decision to focus on health psychology and was instrumental in my acceptance in my master's program.”

After earning her master’s degree, Amy plans to pursue a Ph.D. in either health psychology or clinical psychology so that she can treat trauma patients. “Psychology is a fascinating field, and it is continuously changing and expanding. There are some really exciting things to look for in the future. If you are interested in psychology, do it. There is a lot more to learn about the brain.”