99福利视频

My name is Ali, pronounced like “alley”鈥攁s in “alley cat.” I’m 29, a mother of two girls (ages nine and seven), and a partner of eleven years. As I type, two of my three cats and both of my dogs are snuggled up with me in bed. I鈥檓 a homesteader, an educator, and a recent graduate with a dual bachelor鈥檚 degree in Psychology and Studio Art. After six years as a non-traditional student, I graduated from my local university here in Georgetown, Texas, a small city just north of Austin. Now, I鈥檓 continuing my studies at 99福利视频, working toward a master鈥檚 in art therapy and counseling online.

Being a distance learning student is an incredible opportunity for someone like me, with so much going on in life. Throughout my time in school, I鈥檝e always worked, often juggling multiple part-time or student jobs to fit around my class schedule. At Southwestern, classes are synchronous on Zoom, so there can still be challenges with scheduling, especially during the workday. However, each class only meets once a week, and many are held in the afternoons, which usually falls after my work hours as a teacher in a different time zone.

Living in Texas, I don鈥檛 have any local opportunities to study art therapy, a career I鈥檝e been committed to pursuing for the past eight years. My goal of becoming an art therapist is what initially drove me to pursue my bachelor鈥檚 degree as a young mother and working artist. Now, studying remotely allows me to attend classes wherever I am鈥攚hether that鈥檚 from my bed, on a trip, or during a break at work. This flexibility greatly contrasts with my undergraduate experience, where in-person classes with fixed schedules often created conflicts with childcare and work.

As someone who plans to offer virtual therapy, I find that participating in Southwestern鈥檚 Zoom-based courses provides valuable experience for online practice. Just today, in my Psychology of Altruism class, we were placed in breakout rooms and instructed to sit in silence, making virtual eye contact with our audio on. For a full ten minutes, we sat quietly, hearing only each other鈥檚 backgrounds. This was excellent practice in being present with someone virtually, and I felt a real appreciation for this type of training.

Southwestern鈥檚 approach to online learning is unique. Most online graduate programs are self-paced, with students clicking through slides, posting in forums by a deadline, and taking online quizzes. While flexible, these formats often lack real connection. At Southwestern, you get the semi-flexibility of a virtual learning space, with classes meeting just once a week and offered at varied times to fit different schedules. This setup allows students to dedicate specific time to log in and connect with classmates and professors. Classes here emphasize discussion, experiential learning, and participation in expressive, reflective activities rather than focusing solely on assignments and tests.

This format can be challenging for those who prefer to intellectualize, memorize, and complete tasks because it requires you to dig deep into your creativity and personal experiences鈥攁nd to bring those forward to share with the class. There鈥檚 no option to skim by or simply show up; you might find yourself in a breakout room with just one other person, expected to discuss your genuine thoughts and feelings on the subject. The courses also involve extensive reading鈥攏ot to be tested on, but to fully participate in discussions. If you haven鈥檛 kept up, it quickly becomes apparent when you鈥檙e unable to contribute meaningfully to class conversations.

As someone who has always struggled with ADHD, deadlines, memorization, and seemingly pointless busywork, this learning format works well for me. I know some first-time students find the transformational approach challenging, especially the introspection and healing work woven into each course. For me, this aspect of Southwestern鈥檚 model is refreshing鈥攊t feels far more essential for learning as a healer than memorizing the names of historical figures in the field. Having been in therapy for five years, this kind of self-work is familiar to me, but it feels especially meaningful to have it integrated into an academic setting.

All in all, as a busy person with ADHD who values deep thinking, creativity, and open introspection, being a distance-learning master鈥檚 student at Southwestern is ideal. I鈥檓 building valuable connections with students, staff, and faculty, gaining meaningful experience, and being guided through a transformational healing journey鈥攁ll while still being able to water my garden, supervise my children, and pet my cat at home.

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