Name: Brittany Beauchamp
Home Town: Mission Viejo, CA
Major: Psychology
Year: ’13
HCO: What activities exactly are you involved in on campus and in the community?
The very first group I actively became a part of was Active Minds. It wasn’t until I became an outreach liaison for this group that I realized how much I enjoy being involved. This lead me to become a peer advisor, which is by far the best decision I’ve ever made. This position in the psychology department allowed me to connect with the professor I most admire, Professor Pam Birrell. I also found peer advising extremely helpful to me as a transfer student. Considering I don’t particularly enjoy schlepping myself into a professor’s office and bawling like a baby over my confusing future plans, I’d much rather embarrass myself to a fellow peer! After becoming a peer advisor, I was offered a course assistant position for Professor Birrell’s courses, allowing me to be the first step grader for her weekly papers/exams. I also became a part of the dynamics lab in the psychology department and through that was offered an opportunity to volunteer at the center for community counseling. Sounds like a bit much all at one time, but it’s difficult to turn them down when you grow to love them so much!
HCO: Which is your favorite? And why?
Definitely–without a doubt–peer advising. I’ve never really connected with people like I have the other advisors. It feels great knowing that I always have somewhere I can be on campus, while being surrounded by people I enjoy and assisting peers I love to meet. It’s kind of like my home base on campus and I am so proud to be a part of it.
HCO: Because of all of these commitments, calling you “busy” would be an understatement. What makes it worth it?
Oh, boy! Well, I’d say that initially what makes it worth it is the people I meet and learn from. Whether it’s counselors at the center for community counseling, other advisors in the advising department, Professor Birrell, Melissa Platt in the dynamics lab– I am always surrounded by fantastically inspirational people that I love to learn from every chance I can get. I would also say it’s for the experience. I’ve never really considered myself a leader (except amongst my siblings–they’re my little minions) but I’ve learned much about myself and what I’m capable of through working with such spectacular people.
HCO: On that note, how do you stay sane? Are you just naturally good at being busy or do you have time and stress management tricks up your sleeve that our collegiettesshould know about?
I would say that I work better under stress. I’ve always said that I would love it if classes always worked as fast as they do in the summer. However, I also feel I’m smart about it. I would never commit to something I couldn’t handle. I try my best not to over book my daily life and have so far been able to manage–knock on wood! My all time best advice would be time management– and what I mean by that is not only to organize time for your work, but ALSO time for yourself. If you become hooked on television shows as quickly as I do, you have to indulge every once in a while and ACTUALLY take a break. I always find myself half-watching a show and half-working on something, until finally I make a deal with myself to watch fully and then work fully. Works like a charm!
HCO: Finish this sentence: “When I was little I wanted…”
To be Beyonce… and nothing has changed. But let’s be honest here, who doesn’t want to be her?
HCO: Who inspires you?
Well, my number one inspiration is my dad. There is no way I would be the person I am without the constant love and support from him… and bless that man for being able to deal with me… That is a ROUGH and THANKLESS job! But I’m also inspired by my siblings and their potential. They are probably my driving force in everything. I want to be the person they feel safe to turn to and always inspired by. With them, I am always 100% myself, because that’s exactly who I say they should be. I don’t ever want them to be ashamed of who they are, which is why I try to embarrass them EVERY possible chance I get!
HCO: What do you want to be when you grow up?
I basically want to be Pam. I’d love to practice therapy, obtain a PhD in either clinical or counseling psych (the question of my life) and eventually teach. Overall, I’d like to be helpful, regardless of where I end up. I want to help people.
HCO: What’s the most life-changing book you’ve ever read?
AHHH!!! This is the most difficult question ever. I’d have to say it’s the book Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides. It’s a phenomenal (but rather dense) book that changed my life in high school. But honestly, I could go on about books for DAYS…
HCO: Got any advice or tips for collegiettes considering campus or community involvement?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! I hear more often than anything that people feel under-experienced or that their grades don’t stand out enough to allow them the opportunity to get involved. I don’t know who started this pish-posh rumor, but that is just not true. My best advice for getting involved is to find something you REALLY want to be a part of (which for me was the dynamics lab) and work your way up to it, learning along the way. It’s the best and most beneficial path you can take.
HCO: What do you wish more students knew about psychology peer advising or just peer advising in general?
I wish people didn’t feel so discouraged by their grades or GRE scores or overall grad school potential. Of course this is something to worry about, but I feel awful witnessing someone not giving themselves enough credit. I’d like people to know that peer advising is there to help them start their success early so that those feelings are never present. Also, do not be afraid to come in! I swear we don’t bite.