Q. Tell us something about yourself.
Ans. I am Anshita Singh. I am a final-year Psychology Honours student and a research assistant at Columbia University. I am also applying to graduate programs in the US for higher studies.
Q. Why did you choose Psychology for UG?
Ans. When I was in class 11th, I took a few psychology classes with this one teacher. The way she taught the concepts in Psychology and Neuroscience, I realized that psychology is more than a humanities subject. It is very science-oriented, and it has a lot to do with the human brain, its networks, and human behavior. That was the time when my fascination with natural sciences met my interest in understanding human behavior. I was still contemplating my interests back when I was in high school but those classes got me considering this field. I started reading more about the subject. Interestingly, I never thought of myself to be an academic person and I remember being interested in mass communication but the subject immediately captivated my attention and curiosity. So, I decided that this was something I wanted to pursue.
Q. You are a research assistant at Columbia University and you were formerly a research assistant at Harvard University. Can you tell us how it all started?
Ans. People who are students of Psychology know who Albert Bandura is. He was a senior psychologist who has immensely contributed to the field. Unfortunately, he passed away last year. This was a huge loss to the field. But before that, early in 2020, I wrote an email to him asking a couple of questions about his work and contributions to the field. Surprisingly, he replied! It was a life-changing, bucket-list kind of moment for me which made me realize that I could reach out to other professors who are currently part of the field and seek their guidance. So, I started writing 5-10 emails every day, religiously, in the hopes of learning more about the ongoing research in the field. I remember writing to over 200 people, just letting them know that I read their work, which I did, and that I’d love to help them out with their ongoing projects. Fortunately, I heard from a Ph.D. student at Columbia University. I was interviewed and was able to start working in the lab. Since then, I have learned a lot about the field and have prepared myself for the next steps in my career. I also gained experience at labs at Harvard University and IIT Roorkee. These opportunities made me realize my interest in academic research.
Q. You have worked as a content writer and creator. Kindly share your journey in this area.
Ans. The internship culture in India is terrible. It was through those positions that I realized this. I wasn't being paid and it was not a very collaborative experience working as a content creator. Even today when I meet people, I tell them if you are not learning at an internship or if you are just doing work for the sake of a certificate or a LOR then it's not worth it. Honestly, earlier I thought these certificates and LORs would help me get into these labs or help me get into a Master's program but trust me these are not required at all. What helps is constantly upskilling, networking, and communicating effectively.
Q. You are also a co-founder of Rubrix. How did you decide to go with that?
Ans. My friend and I were talking one day that there should be a platform where one can go and just nerd out about things they enjoy. Although there are already platforms like Quora and Reddit that provide that space, they are not regulated for quality content. We decided that we want a platform where anybody can come up and share what they know and what they are interested in but at the same time, there should be a way to monitor what is being circulated. Rubrix gives a space to get like-minded people together. Today we have a team of 25-30 people who are working toward this goal. We create content, we talk about the most random things like Psychology, Economics, or conspiracy theories. Currently, we are working on a website that will serve as the platform for all of this to take place.
Q. It would be great if you can share your views on mental health, counseling, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc.
Ans. Firstly, I just want to point out that a therapist or a counselor is different from a psychiatrist. I don't know why people are so afraid of understanding that mental illnesses are just as dysfunctional as physical illnesses. Don’t we all experience emotional turbulence in our lives? Honestly, everybody should go to a therapist. Everyone needs a therapist or a counseling psychologist. Living in a country where people are worried more about "what people will say." than what a professional will say is troublesome. It is a major reason why people don’t want to consult a mental health professional. I believe we need to spread more awareness about mental health to fight this stigma around it and get ways to regulate the field to protect it from “quacks”.
Q. How did you feel after featuring in the DU Beat's 21 under 21 article? Also, during these difficult COVID times, how did you keep yourself motivated?
Ans. It was incredible to be featured in the DU Beat 2021 article. I had been following them since my first semester. And DU Beat has been working tirelessly to keep DU students informed and entertained. It was very interesting and exciting for me to become a part of that initiative. It was so great to share that space with some amazing faces whom I didn't even know about. Oftentimes we lose sight of people acing other fields out of engineering, management, or medicine. So, I was just excited to be one of those people in the article who are taking and acing unconventional initiatives. Talking about keeping myself sane during COVID, maybe it is my personal goals that kept me going. I realize my privileges in being able to do that. I just hope things get better soon and we set into this ‘new normal’ as soon as possible.
Q. What are your future goals?
Ans. As of now, in terms of my profession, I am pretty fascinated by academic research in Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience. I am hoping to get trained as a researcher, pursue Ph.D. and ultimately become a full-time researcher. Also, since I was in class 9th. I had this weird wish of giving a TED Talk before I turned 25. So, just sending thoughts into the universe.
Q. If you could share your journey so far, it would be really helpful for the students who want to follow a similar path.
Ans. The thing is, I never knew the “path”. I had a lot of fights with my parents just to convince them that I wanted to pursue psychology instead of engineering because I had PCM in classes 11 and 12. As I have always been interested in the intersection of science, biology, and psychology, this was something that I wanted to do. Since the field is still growing, there aren’t a lot of opportunities to experience the subject. But at the end of the day, it is about committing to doing what really excites you. It is about being confident about what you know, working hard and keeping backup plans ready. Not focusing on them a lot, but keeping them ready. Another suggestion would be to talk to people. Find people who are inspiring, who are acing in the field of your interest, and network with them. Watch YouTube videos, scroll through LinkedIn, Twitter. Just stay updated with what other people have to say. It is these people in your field who are doing things and who you can learn from. Another thing that helped me immensely was making lists. I make lists of things I want to do in the year, a month, and a day. It just gives me a lot of perspectives and helps me work backward.
Q. Your advice to people reading your story.
Ans The first thing above everything is your mental health. Mental health is real so reach out if you need help. Secondly, it is not just about getting opportunities but also about creating them. Finally, contrary to what we generally hear, people are super kind. So always find yourself around people where you get the space to grow and learn.
Highlights of the Achiever's journey:
Anshita Singh is fascinated by the human brain and behavior and is pursuing a Psychology Hons from Delhi University.
She is also a research assistant at Columbia University.
She is the co-founder of Rubrix. Rubrix is a start-up set to deliver crisp insights from an array of enriching concepts, perfect for graduate students and young career professionals.
She has also been featured in the 2021 DU Beat’s 21 under 21 article.
She believes that constantly upskilling, networking, and communicating effectively can get people to unimaginable heights.
Her goal is to pursue research in Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience.
Her advice to people is to find ways to create opportunities, network with people in the field, practice kindness, and not focus too much on backup plans.
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