Applying to clinical psychology doctoral programs taught me that rejection is not always about whether you are qualified. Here is what I learned about fit, timing, resilience, and finding another path toward becoming a psychologist.

I did not choose psychology because I had everything figured out. I chose it because I kept asking why: why people become who they are, how early experiences shape us, and what helps people heal. In this post, I share the story behind The Budding Psychologist, my journey as a first-generation student and researcher, and why I created this space for students navigating psychology, graduate school, and higher education.