I always find it interesting when I am taken back by the humans I am fortunate enough to learn from. Each faculty member who spoke shared multiple elements I either connected with or aspire to acquire. 

Lori Lacivita PhD, made me feel connected to her style of teaching because of her love of helping others through academics. She seems like someone who I can take my questions to, which I appreciate, as a neurodivergent learner. 

Like Jana Price-Sharps PhD, I too am driven in my belief in peoples ability to change and that the field of forensics chose me as well. Life experiences kept pointing me in the direction of taking my psychology/counseling skills  and allow them to intersect with the realm of criminal justice work and reform. Her use of travel, creativity and spending time with her husband as outlets, are very much relatable for myself. Her expression of joy around volunteering is also another element of my life that we can relate on, so I look forward to seeing how that develops to be of use for me in life moving forward. 

The faculty member I felt the most drawn to their introduction would have to be Eric Hickey PhD. As a recent assault survivor and human who feels burnt-out of the system of reporting and supporting the police to make their arrests, I have become a person who wants to better understand the patterns and systems that increase the victimology in survivors, by re-traumatizing them in the system of criminal justice. I have worked, lived and loved amongst the “dark sided” ones, and I see where empathy holds space for change, but also creates a playground for humans to let their monsters creatively play amongst the unsuspecting. I already see how there is so much I will learn from him. I am writing a book based on my upbringing, and have been involved in a developing documentary because of my recent experiences, and from this alone I am learning a lot and I still have so much to learn. People love the entertainment of the more twisted hard to explained elements of life, but many also will act like it's not real when the proof is all there. People still think it's not right in their own neighborhood/home/city, they think they are the exception. I would like to help people see the signs before they become a statistic. His touching upon criminal paraphilia was exactly what I needed to hear to know that I am amongst those who understand, versus wanting to hide from the truth of what really exists out there and in peoples minds. 

I am curious about consulting on cases, as well as helping to reform a system that continues to re-traumatize survivors/victims versus helping. I would also like to work in helping humans who wants to break the cycles of generational trauma and ending societal abuses that are often passed down. I believe in the mind-body somatic connection, so with multiple healing modalities taken on by someone open to change, change within themself can happen. 

Resources

Get Psyched – Forensic Psychology. (n.d.). Cdn-Media.waldenu.edu. https://cdn-media.waldenu.edu/2dett4d/Walden/Canvas/Support/PSYC/Get-Psyched/index.html#/lessons/nWeeCI_s5ePWL0EaYZ-UqMHmTN9ON4tCLinks to an external site.

Walden University, LLC. (2016–2022). Forensic Psychology Media Resource SiteLinks to an external site.Links to an external site.