Heather Jackson, Women Studies Graduate Student

How has your experience in graduate school been different than undergraduate, how has it been similar?

Well first, I am in a different field and I am learning more professional skills, as opposed to going to classes to get a degree. There is a lot more homework, reading, self-reflection, collaborative work between students and faculty, and students are more in it together. The students are there for a reason and made it there because they worked hard. That was something I missed as an undergraduate, some students did not seem to care about the issues I did in classes and were there to get the 3 credits. I seriously got excited about theory, statistics, and readings, not many others did. However, in grad school, other students help each other, we are passionate about why were are there, and we care about each other. We seem to understand we are in the same boat and want to help each other get through school. This is my experience, however, I do not want to speak on behalf of others. Some ways that the experiences have been the same are I am still learning, things are new, and I know I still have a long way to go as far as what I am leaning and absorbing. There are new professors, new students, new material, new ideas - in some ways it feels like my first year of college.

How does Women Studies factor into your main study of Counseling?

Actually, I think having a major in women studies as an undergraduate was a huge reason why I chose counseling. Trying to decide between being a professor and taking a more active and helping role was something I was trying to decide on. After applying to sociology graduate programs and the counseling program at UND, I decided that taking a more active and helping role was something more for me. Having a women studies background has helped me understand oppressions women (and others) face in our society. As a counselor, I want to work with women (mothers, abuse, sexual violence, so on), as well as the queer community, and children. Being able to know that I can help women in a more direct and active role is very exciting and rewarding for me. Also, the background of women studies has prepared me to chose feminist therapy as part of my theoretical orientation as a counselor. Feminism can empower and help women leave abusive relationships or be able to defend themselves (as well as many other things!). This is so important to me. As a women studies major, I also took the IMPACT class on campus and I can see myself, as a feminist counselor, suggesting classes, as such. Women studies helped me see the many ways women are oppressed, but also the ways women can empower themselves. For me, one of those ways can be through counseling. Women studies helped me make a decision on how and why I want to help women. This is also why I decided to declare a cognate in women studies, so I can continue this work through graduate school.

Have your future plans changed any since beginning graduate school? What are your plans for after grad school?

Not so much. Except since I started applying to graduate school, I chose counseling over academia. I see myself as being too active to be in academia and I see this more as I am in graduate school. I plan on applying to the PhD program in counseling psychology at UND this year. After graduate school, I want to work in a private practice, a hospital, or an agency being a counselor (and maybe teach part time). I would also love to work at a women's shelter, or work with queer youth, children in dysfunctional homes, teen parents, helping people with end of life issues, grief, trauma, abuse, addiction, and oppression. Social justice is something I want integrate into my work as a counselor. I would also love to do workshops for children of addicts, women in abusive situations, feminist empowerment, queer youth empowerment, and teen and single parents. Finally, I would also love to speak on such issues or coming into public schools, as I have experienced many of the same issues I want to work with.