About Me:

My name is Michael Rivera, a current student at the University of California Davis, and is currently studying to be a Psychology professional. I am a senior and will be pursuing higher education in the psychology field, specifically developmental and cognitive issues that humans face every day. I have many experiences that are connected to the psychology field, including one on one patient interaction and participating in psychology research groups.

I have been inspired to go through the psychology route because of the inspiration of my AP Psychology teacher Mr. Yacovelli, and the many experiences I have participated in. I have been interested in psychology because of the complexity of the human brain, and how the brain alone affects behavior. Mr. Yacovelli was able to inspire me because of his extensive knowledge in psychology and how to first change behavior we must change our brain.

Personally, I try to practice techniques on how to strengthen my mind through meditation. Meditation makes you stop negative thinking and focus on the present instead of worrying about the future since we have no control over that. That is why having control over your mind can change your behavior and therefore prevent certain psychological stresses from taking over your life. My inspiration also comes from my family because when I see that they are going through stress I try to inform them of techniques to combat anxiety or stress. That is why I enjoy helping others and making a positive impact in other people’s lives.

In addition, I have been studying the many issues that the psychology discourse community is facing today, such as the issue of anxiety. I can proudly state that I have been conducting research about the psychology discourse community and analyzing different types of genres and rhetorical devices that psychologist writers try to communicate with their audience. As a result, I have developed the expertise to know what the psychology discourse community has to offer and the many issues that arises in everyday life. I have also been able to participate in psychology research studies by becoming a research assistant in developmental studies. This is where my interest of anxiety came about when I was analyzing the certain behaviors and consequences that occurred with toddlers. I have been able to obtain exceptional grades in both cognitive and developmental psychology. This background knowledge on how the brain influences the body presents me with a new perspective of psychological issue that can bring health concerns over time. Lastly, I have developed new lens entering the psychology field with the hopes and expectations of smoothly transitioning into the psychology community.