Written by: Julian Battista, first-year Psychology student
Have you ever wondered where your psychology degree could take you? You know, outside of sitting in the therapist chair or working in a research lab? These questions have been on my mind a lot lately.
As a first-year Psychology student, the possibilities of what to do after my undergraduate program at the University of Guelph-Humber seem both constrained and daunting. The common answer among my peers and me is simple: we just want to help people. However, does that only mean becoming a therapist or a social worker? The limitation of options feels overwhelming, and there never seems to be enough time to figure it all out.
This all changed when Bernard Szederkenyi, a director at TELUS, visited as a guest lecturer in my class (a first-year psychology class called Foundational Skills for Psychology, taught by Alecia Carolli) and suddenly, my perspective shifted.
Bernard isn’t a psychologist. In fact, one of the first things he told us was that he has no formal psychology background. Yet, his work leading teams in marketing, customer experience, and digital product strategy, is rooted in psychology with understanding human behaviours and problem solving in ways that surround thinking. His career proves that psychology isn’t just a field of study; it’s a means of understanding the people around you that applies to almost any industry.
One of Bernard’s key messages was that psychology is about more than finding answers; it’s about reframing problems. Too often, we rush to find solutions instead of stepping back and asking, “Is this even the right question? Can behaviours be changed? Can perceptions be shifted?” This way of thinking is valuable not only in our careers, but in every facet of life.
Bernard closed his talk with five key takeaways: challenge the norm, embrace creativity, express yourself, have a rebellious spirit, and take control. We should not be looking to break the rules for no reason at all, but instead, break them for what you find to be the best reason, the passion to be different. When we think outside of the box, we allow ourselves to freely choose what the best path for our situation is. Embracing this may not just be the leading factor for finding fulfillment, but success as well.
Prior to Bernard’s talk, I felt like my career choices were limited to traditional psychology roles. Instead, his insights helped me see that psychology is everywhere in the workplace. Beyond this, it's not about going down the clear path; it's embracing the skills learned in a psychology degree to do something that excites you and brings endless passion.
Listening to Bernard’s lecture was one of the most valuable experiences of my first year, and I think his message could resonate with any student. You don't have to limit yourself to a traditional box. Take the unique skills you have developed from your education and beyond, and step outside of the box to carve your own career path.
Written by: Julian Battista, first-year Psychology student