Student Ambassador: Hannah Kyller

 

 Hi prospective students! My name is Hannah Kyller and I am a first-year student in the School Psychology MA/CAGS program here at William James College. I am a member of the Mental Health Professional Service Program (MHSP) here. I grew up in Quincy, MA, but I am currently living in Hanson, MA. I graduated from Bridgewater State University in 2024, where I majored in Psychology and minored in Social Welfare.

I became interested in the field of school psychology through the experiences I had working with children, along with my personal experiences. I faced mental health challenges in high school, and my school psychologist became a vital support system for me during this time. His help and support heavily inspired me to become a school psychologist myself. I want to be able to have the opportunity to help students who may be facing challenges with their mental health and may need support inside and outside of the classroom. I currently work in ABA as a Registered Behavior Technician, where I provide 1:1 services for children who are on the autism spectrum. The best part of this job is working 1:1 with children, and in school psychology, you get plenty of opportunities to work 1:1 with students and to build rapport with them. Through my professional and personal experiences, along with doing research about school psychology, I knew that this field was the right fit for me!

When I was researching graduate programs in school psychology, William James College was a school that really stood out to me. What stood out to me the most about the school psychology program here was being able to gain field experience the first year. I feel as though gaining this experience early on is going to benefit me greatly when I become a school psychologist myself and to give my confidence I need to help students succeed inside and outside of the classroom. When I did my interview here, the faculty made me feel valued with both the professional experience that I had, along with my personal experience. I felt a strong sense of community and belonging in the program, and knew that William James College was going to be the right for me to pursue my career goals and grow as a person. The professors, along with my cohort, have been extremely welcoming and supportive. This support, along with my experiences at my field site, make me excited to continue pursuing my degree here and to gain more opportunities both on campus and at my field site.

My biggest piece of advice for first year students is to ask questions and to advocate for yourself. On the first day of orientation, this is exactly what the faculty members will say to you, and this could not be any more true. Even when I don’t have the right answers or need clarification on something, I never feel judged by anyone or like I am asking a stupid question. The faculty, along with your cohort, are here to support you so always advocate for yourself and ask questions because no question is a stupid question!! Be your biggest advocate!

If you have any questions about the MA/CAGS program at William James College, feel free to reach out to me and I will be happy to answer any questions that you may have. I look forward to talking with you and helping you on this journey!! :)