“My education journey has been anything but linear”: A Conversation with 4th year student Abbey Hunter

(Photo provided by Abbey Hunter)

“I think education is presented to us as being a linear concept - you go directly into college or your undergrad after high school, then go to grad school, and then get a job - but I don’t feel like it needs to be executed in that way at all. I really enjoy academia and I have every intention of getting my master's one day, but for now, I’d like to take a bit of a break and get a job that allows me some flexibility.” ~Abbey Hunter

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*In the following article, TS refers to The Synapse, and AH refers to Abbey Hunter

TS: Could you briefly introduce yourself and why you chose to study psychology at UNB?

AH: Hi! I’m Abbey and I’m currently in my 4th year at UNB working towards getting my BA in Psychology with Honours and a specialization in Neuroscience. I originally started off my undergrad at Acadia University but truthfully, I wasn’t motivated enough to be in school. I ended up moving back home and took a year and a half off to work and travel. I had never planned on going back to school but after a year in the workforce, I decided it was something I wanted to pursue on my own terms, and UNB just so happened to have a relatively new Neuroscience specialization, so I decided to try it out and see if it was a good fit. It’s now 3 years later, and as it turns out, this was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for myself!

TS: What is the most fascinating thing you have learned about psychology from your courses at UNB so far?

AH: I think the most fascinating thing I’ve learned about psychology is the relationship between gender expression and your experience as a member of society. Comparing how different gender identities are socialized is fascinating because it affects all of us on such a deeply subconscious (and even conscious) level. Something that’s really stuck with me over the course of my undergrad is how androgyny can actually be beneficial – compared to more traditional expressions of gender (i.e., presenting as either masculine or feminine), those who are androgynous have higher self-esteem, experience less anxiety, and tend to be more emotionally intelligent. This is such an interesting topic because we’re fed the idea that you must either present as feminine or masculine, but people who are both highly feminine AND masculine (i.e. androgynous) challenge that narrative and show that possessing both of these characteristics can be an incredibly positive thing.

TS: How far do you wish to pursue studies in psychology and why?

AH: At this point, I’m not sure! I would love to get a Master's degree eventually (hopefully in social work) but I don’t feel like I’m there yet. I think education is presented to us as being a linear concept - you go directly into college or your undergrad after high school, then go to grad school, and then get a job - but I don’t feel like it needs to be executed in that way at all. I really enjoy academia and I have every intention of getting my master's one day, but for now, I’d like to take a bit of a break and get a job that allows me some flexibility (because I’m young and still trying to figure myself and life out)! Psychology is and always will be my favourite topic, so I’d like to make my education a lifelong process instead of doing it all in one isolated stretch of time.

TS: If you met someone who wasn’t interested in psychology at all, what is something you would say to try and enlighten them?

AH: Hmm, that’s a great question. I think we’re all subconsciously interested in psychology because it’s how we understand the world around us! At the core of it, we’re all social animals and we need connection with others to function healthily, both physically and mentally. If someone said they weren’t interested in psychology, I would maybe try to expand their conceptualization of psychology, because it’s such a diverse field.

TS: Is there any discipline other than psychology that you would seriously consider pursuing? Why?

AH: Absolutely! Something I’m really interested in pursuing right now is education. Over the past two years, I’ve been fortunate enough to intern with two local organizations that work with underserved children, youth, and teens. I’ve gotten to work with kids from multiple different backgrounds and it’s been incredibly enlightening, so I would really like to get my B.Ed. in order to continue working with children! I can honestly say that working with elementary-aged students is one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever done and it’s the thing I look forward to the most every week, so I’m excited to hopefully continue on with that in the future.

TS: Do you have a favourite psychological film/ book/ song/ artwork/ etc? If so, which, and what do you like about it?

AH: One of my favourite books about psychology is actually the textbook I had for a Close Relationships course I took here at UNB. The way it’s written makes it easy to read and it’s super comprehensive! Because it’s a formal textbook, it was pretty expensive, and I had intended on selling it after the term ended. But at the end of the semester, I wasn’t able to part with it and I still have it on my bookshelf. That textbook was my first real dive into gender and gender differences in social relationships, and it’s something I refer back to regularly. I don’t think it’s something everyone needs to go read, but I think some of the topics covered in the book are definitely worth learning more about.

TS: Is there anything else you wish to share about yourself as a psych student?

AH: I’d just like to mention that my education journey has been anything but linear and I actually bounced around a lot before I settled on: 1) coming back to university, and 2) deciding on what I wanted to pursue in the future. It was so difficult seeing other people settle into their lives. I felt like I was falling behind, which, in retrospect, seems so silly. I tried out multiple different jobs and programs before I felt like I was in the right place, and there are still times where I question where I’m at. I think it’s super important to normalize not having your life figured out, and I think it’s equally important to be flexible and allow yourself to try new things, even if you’re worried it isn’t the “right” thing to do. Ψ

Created for The Synapse by Incé Husain.