After graduating high school, I realized that I wanted my career aspirations to center around enhancing the quality of life of children. This goal led me to pursue studies in psychology, where I am entering my fourth year of undergraduate studies. Throughout my academic journey, I have been drawn to courses that explore the interplay of brain function, behavior, and cognitive processes鈥攅ventually leading me to discover the field of neuropsychology. This discovery prompted me to seek out experiences that could provide insight into whether a career in neuropsychology would meet my career aspirations and interests.
Having previously interned at the Pediatric Oncology Neuro Social () lab, I was eager to build upon my experience. My learning objectives included refining my skills in conducting scoping reviews, mastering advanced statistical analyses, enhancing my presentation abilities, and completing a manuscript addressing risk factors contributing to cognitive impairments in pediatric brain tumour survivors.
The PONS lab operates within the Center of Psycho-Oncology (CPO) at the Sainte-Justine Children鈥檚 Hospital. The lab focuses on understanding and improving psychosocial outcomes in pediatric cancer patients. The CPO is dedicated to exploring the psychosocial aspects of pediatric diseases and advancing psychosocial care in pediatric oncology through collaborative research involving researchers, clinician-scientists, Ph.D. students, and trainees.
During my internship, I had two main projects. First, I collaborated with a team of researchers across Canadian provinces to contribute to a scoping review for the Canadian Pediatric Cancer Consortium. I participated in meetings to discuss the review's progress and met the set goals by reviewing more than 1400 abstracts by the end of my internship. Secondly, I worked on a research manuscript investigating risk factors linked to cognitive impairments in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors. My responsibilities included finalizing the manuscript, presenting preliminary results to co-authors and submitting the work to a scientific journal.
Interacting with fellow lab members has been a highlight of my internship experiences. I enjoy learning from their experiences, collaborating and supporting each other to overcome the challenges we face. Another highlight was shadowing a neuropsychologist for a day, as it allowed me to observe the practical application of neuropsychological principles. I witnessed the implementation and scoring of tests (Conners, ADOS, ABC-2) on a 6-year-old child and how closely the neuropsychologist collaborated with an ergo therapist. Finally, I had the honor of delivering a presentation and leading a discussion on a research paper (which my supervisor and I had provided commentary on) to the Society of Pediatric Psychology Student Journal Club. This was particularly rewarding for me as presentations pose a personal challenge, and the feedback I received was very positive.
As I mentioned previously, a challenge I faced was nervousness during presentations, particularly when they were in French because it is my third language. To overcome this, I extensively prepared and practiced, coupled with relaxation techniques. An additional challenge was grappling with feelings of insecurity regarding my work. Overcoming this challenge involved seeking constructive feedback from mentors and recognizing that growth comes from continuous learning and improvement.
This internship has greatly enriched my university experience by providing hands-on experience with research methodologies, fostering interpersonal skills and facilitating professional growth. The internship honed my skills in scientific writing, advanced statistical analysis, literature review, and communication. Furthermore, it reinforced theoretical concepts I had learned in class, particularly those in brain function, child development and psychological assessments.
The internship funding I received played a pivotal role in alleviating financial burdens and, in so doing, allowed me to dedicate more time to the internship. Additionally, given that I commute from a location two hours away from Montreal, the internship funding helped offset travel costs. I thank the donors who made this internship award possible and my supervisor Dr. Leandra Desjardins for her unwavering support and mentorship.
In conclusion, my internship at the PONS lab within the Center of Psycho-Oncology continues to be a transformative experience where I keep advancing in my role and work. It deepened my understanding of psychosocial oncology research, honed my skills, and confirmed my desire to pursue graduate studies in neuropsychology. The supportive environment, challenging projects, and practical exposure have undoubtedly contributed to my growth as a psychology student.
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