Samantha Strickland

Describe the steps you took to obtain your internship.

In the Spring of 2022, I applied for a paid research stipend internship in Tampa, Florida called Student Research Institute at the University within the Mental Health Law and Policy department.

Describe some of your responsibilities or duties during your experiential learning opportunity.

I had to do qualitative coding, write memos for the research, present my research project, read research papers once a week and discuss them, and attend weekly meetings with my mentor.

What was a typical day like "on the job?"

We attended weekly research seminars and field investigations, where we would either learn about the steps to the research process or go out to drug courts and see real people affected by mental health law policy.

What are some major takeaways from your experience? How will these help prepare you for the next step after graduation?

Major takeaways from this experience are to always put yourself out there and to not be dissuaded by “no’s.” Always persevere and keep your end goal in mind, and network wherever you can. This program helped me prepare for my next step after graduation by preparing me for different psychology professions and how to best apply for clinical psychology graduate programs.

Did this experience help clarify your career path? If yes, how so?

Very much so. This program proved to me that I really do enjoy research, and that this profession is one that I want to continue for the rest of my life.