Isabel Motta
Hello! My name is Isabel, but most people call me Izzy. I am a rising senior majoring in psychology with a minor in education. My passion for psychology, particularly developmental, stems from my early exposure to therapies and interventions that have been beneficial for my little brother, who is on the autism spectrum. Seeing the impact these services have had on my brother, I am driven to pursue a career where I can do the same, contributing to larger communities as a research psychologist. As a community college student, I had the opportunity to participate in Psi Beta, a national honors society in psychology focused on undergraduate research. I completed my own research project here (soon to be published!), initially sparking my interest in research psychology!
Currently, I work in the field of applied behavior analysis as a behavioral technician, where I support children with autism. I absolutely love what I do, and seeing the impact I can have on children and families is so fulfilling. After transferring to UW, I began working as a research assistant at the Language, Cognition, and Development Lab. My time here has been extremely valuable, and getting to run experiments and analyze data has provided me with a solid foundation of research skills essential for my future career.
Outside of school and work, you can find me trying new restaurants, losing my voice at concerts, or doing anything crafty! I was motivated to apply for this scholarship because of my desire to contribute meaningful research to the field of developmental psychology, and my passion for supporting those with developmental differences and their families. I am very honored to have received this year's award and extremely thankful for the donors' support to further my education!
Goals
After graduating from UW, I plan to apply to graduate school to obtain a Ph.D. in developmental psychology. I have dreams of establishing my own research lab, where I can further explore the cognitive and social development of children and contribute meaningful research to the field. On the side, I also hope to become a psychology professor, educating and inspiring the next generation of students.
Tips
While writing your essays, make sure your goals are very clear! The scholarship boards love to see students who know what they do, and what steps they will take to get there. Don’t be afraid to get into the specifics!
