{"id":3323,"date":"2025-12-10T09:43:39","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T14:43:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/csh\/?p=3323"},"modified":"2026-02-05T11:06:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T16:06:27","slug":"finding-purpose-in-psychology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/csh\/2025\/12\/10\/finding-purpose-in-psychology\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding Purpose in Psychology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Liberty Rister<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

When McKenna Bivens walks across the graduation stage this December, her cap will shimmer in the light \u2014 a sparkling, hand-crafted, bedazzled dancing Charlie Cardinal. The project took more than 24 hours, and for McKenna, it\u2019s more than just decoration. \u201cAll the time and energy I put into it reflects how much I\u2019ve cared about my experience here,\u201d she said. \u201cIt feels comforting and fun, just like Ball State has been.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Much like her cap, McKenna\u2019s journey at Ball State has been built one piece at a time, with care, patience, and creativity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When she first arrived on campus, McKenna was majoring in elementary education with a concentration in psychology and counseling. But after taking her first psychology class, something clicked. \u201cAfter my first psych class, I just found the topic more interesting,\u201d she said. \u201cMy grades even started going up, which felt like a small sign I made the right decision.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Counseling quickly became her focus, understanding people, listening deeply, and learning what helps them heal. That interest soon grew into a clear sense of purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For McKenna, choosing Ball State was initially about convenience; she grew up in Muncie. But what started as a practical choice became something much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cI\u2019ve gained so many friends, opportunities, and learning experiences here,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just a convenience anymore, it\u2019s a community.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

One class that shaped that community was Techniques of Psychological Interventions, taught by Dr. Anthony Pacifico. The course dives into real-world counseling methods and communication skills, essentials for anyone planning to enter the mental health field. \u201cDr. Pacifico has been such a big support,\u201d McKenna said. \u201cHe\u2019s helped me through the grad school process and always encourages me to keep going.\u201d The experience gave her confidence not just in her academic abilities, but in her ability to connect with others, a skill she uses daily in her internship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside the classroom, McKenna has found meaning in hands-on work that connects psychology to community care. She currently interns at Aspire Indiana Health, a nonprofit that provides integrated medical and behavioral health services. There, she researches job instability and homelessness, exploring how employment opportunities can help individuals achieve lasting stability. At the end of the semester, she\u2019ll present her findings, a tangible outcome of her passion for helping others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her academic experiences have also blended with service and leadership on campus. In her Psychology of Support Groups course, taught by Dr. George Gaither, she serves as the administrative coordinator for the gender diverse group, a role that\u2019s taught her how empathy and structure can work hand in hand. \u201cBall State really helps us understand people on a deeper level,\u201d she explained. \u201cYou gain real-world skills that actually apply to your career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking back, McKenna can see how these experiences connect. \u201cWhen I started, I didn\u2019t really know who I was,\u201d she said. \u201cBut through the psychology program, I\u2019ve built confidence in my skills and in myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As her undergraduate chapter closes, McKenna is preparing to continue her work with Aspire while pursuing a master\u2019s degree in counseling. Her long-term goal is to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), combining her education, empathy, and research into a meaningful career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her advice for new psychology students is simple but heartfelt: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cTake every opportunity you can,\u201d she said. \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to get involved. Whether you find your people right away or later on, there\u2019s always someone here for you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

For McKenna, each bedazzled dot on her graduation cap represents the moments, people, and lessons that made her time at Ball State shine. \u201cI\u2019ll remember everything,\u201d she said with a smile. \u201cBut especially the friends I\u2019ve made and the circle I\u2019ve worked so hard to build.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

For more information about the Department of Psychological Science, visit our <\/em>website<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>contact <\/em>our office<\/em><\/a>, or follow us on <\/em>Facebook<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>Instagram<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Liberty Rister When McKenna Bivens walks across the graduation stage this December, her cap will shimmer in the light \u2014 a sparkling, hand-crafted, bedazzled dancing Charlie Cardinal. The project took more than 24 hours, and for McKenna, it\u2019s more than just decoration. \u201cAll the time and energy I put into it reflects how much […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3328,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[199,39,1],"tags":[506,612,345],"class_list":["post-3323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-psychological-science","category-students","category-uncategorized","tag-graduate","tag-pyschology","tag-student"],"yoast_head":"\nFinding Purpose in Psychology - College of Sciences & Humanities<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ball State graduate McKenna Bivens reflects on her journey at Ball State and the community connections she found along the way.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/csh\/2025\/12\/10\/finding-purpose-in-psychology\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Finding Purpose in Psychology - 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To see some student good news, check out our blog post\u00a0congratulating our scholarship and award\u00a0recipients. History Good News: Spring 2021 Faculty Dr. Nicole Etcheson published \u201c\u2018When Women\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Good News"","block_context":{"text":"Good News","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/csh\/category\/uncategorized\/good-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"blue background with confetti saying Good News@","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/04\/24122738\/GOOD-NEWS-2-e1542828434356.png?fit=1200%2C603&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/04\/24122738\/GOOD-NEWS-2-e1542828434356.png?fit=1200%2C603&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/04\/24122738\/GOOD-NEWS-2-e1542828434356.png?fit=1200%2C603&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/04\/24122738\/GOOD-NEWS-2-e1542828434356.png?fit=1200%2C603&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/04\/24122738\/GOOD-NEWS-2-e1542828434356.png?fit=1200%2C603&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1813,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/csh\/2021\/11\/29\/history-good-news-fall-2021\/","url_meta":{"origin":3323,"position":1},"title":"History Good News: Fall 2021","author":"Anthony Herring","date":"November 29, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"With the semester nearing its end, it's time to celebrate the good news that #bsuhistory has to share! __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Faculty On September 25, 2021, Dr. Dorshele Stewart gave the keynote speech at the College of Sciences and Humanities celebration of Dean\u2019s List students. Dr. Emily Suzanne Johnson She reviewed The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Alumni"","block_context":{"text":"Alumni","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/csh\/category\/alumni\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Colorful fireworks explode in the night sky above a lit brick building and green trees. 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First off, let's do a virtual high-five because you've successfully landed an internship in the captivating world of public history. But this isn't just any run-of-the-mill internship \u2013 no siree! You're about to embark on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Curation Chronicles"","block_context":{"text":"Curation Chronicles","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/csh\/category\/curation-chronicles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A collage of classical paintings featuring various figures in period clothing, with a black banner across the center reading \"curation chronicles\" in white text.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2022\/08\/29170910\/curation-chronicles-1-1.png?fit=1200%2C530&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2022\/08\/29170910\/curation-chronicles-1-1.png?fit=1200%2C530&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2022\/08\/29170910\/curation-chronicles-1-1.png?fit=1200%2C530&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2022\/08\/29170910\/curation-chronicles-1-1.png?fit=1200%2C530&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2022\/08\/29170910\/curation-chronicles-1-1.png?fit=1200%2C530&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1233,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/csh\/2021\/05\/13\/as-covid-clears-let-the-storm-chasing-begin\/","url_meta":{"origin":3323,"position":4},"title":"As COVID Clears, Let the Storm-chasing Begin","author":"Ellen Good","date":"May 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"In many ways, we\u2019ve all become storm-battered this past year. 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