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Dylan McKenzie

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Finalist

Bio

I am a queer, gender non-conforming person planning to major in Psychology with the goal of getting my PhD. I am currently attending full-time PSEO in order to have my Associate's by the time I graduate, and I am passionate about many issues, notably racial justice, police accountability, LGBTQIA+ rights and youth, mental health awareness, substance abuse awareness, and promotion of the developmentally disabled. My long-time goals include advocating for queer youth, correcting misinformation about the autistic community, and providing therapy for low income and at risk youth.

Education

Inver Hills Community College

Associate's degree program
2021 - 2023
  • GPA:
    4

Lakeville North High School

High School
2019 - 2023
  • GPA:
    4

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Psychology, General
    • Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Test scores:

    • 1480
      SAT
    • 35
      ACT

    Career

    • Dream career field:

      Psychology

    • Dream career goals:

      Therapist and Researcher

    • Barista

      Starbucks
      2022 – Present2 years
    • Guest Service, Cashier, Self Checkout Advocate, Guest Advocate

      Target
      2020 – Present4 years

    Sports

    Softball

    Intramural
    2016 – 20193 years

    Research

    • Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies

      Lakeville North Speech and Debate — Research and Discussion
      2019 – 2020
    • International/Globalization Studies

      Lakeville North Highschool Speech and Debate — Research and Discussion
      2020 – 2021

    Arts

    • The Play's The Thing

      Acting
      2022 – 2022
    • Children's Castle Theater

      Theatre
      Honk
      2014 – 2015
    • Forte Fine Arts

      Theatre
      Shrek the Musical Jr., Seussical the Musical Jr.
      2015 – 2017
    • KTMS Theater

      Theatre
      Alice in Wonderland Jr.
      2018 – 2019
    • Lakeville North Theater

      Theatre
      Elf, Cinderella
      2019 – 2021
    • Band

      Music
      2016 – 2020

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Dakota County Library System — Tutor and general service
      2021 – Present
    • Volunteering

      ReStore Thrift Store — Stock checking
      2021 – 2021
    • Volunteering

      Feed My Starving Children
      2012 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Greg Lockwood Scholarship
    For the past six years of my life, I have watched nearly all of my friends struggle with mental illness and self-acceptance, some unable to receive help either due to financial reasons or parental intervention. This experience has molded the person I am today, leading me to major in clinical psychology and cementing my future goals. The change I wish to see in the world is accessible mental health care, especially for disadvantaged communities, and widespread mental health awareness; I will do my best to enact it. As it stands, there are rampant misconceptions about receiving mental health care. Some believe that only "crazy" people go to therapy, while others mistakenly conflate psychology and psychiatry. I believe one of the most important actions that must be taken is heavily increasing the amount of education that is given on mental health, while also taking measures to counteract disinformation. Of my friends who struggle with mental illness, several have been denied therapy by their parents due to outdated views of therapy that paint it as a negative. Watching them continue to struggle when there are steps that could be taken has been both infuriating and heartbreaking, and it is a strong motivator for my actions and goals. Alternatively, some of my friends have lacked access to therapy and diagnoses as a result of their financial status. This is unacceptable, especially considering the intersection of mental illness and poverty. Queer people, BIPOC, and disabled people are all statistically more likely to be homeless or low-income, and queer people and homeless people have higher rates of mental illness and substance abuse. Making mental health care, or any healthcare, unaffordable is inherently discriminatory and harmful to already disadvantaged communities. To combat this, I believe the solution lies primarily in universal healthcare, but on a personal level in income-based pricing, free-of-charge outreach, and debt-free payment plans. Therapy can also be difficult to access for neurodivergent people as a result of more personalized individual preferences, environmental triggers, and outdated views in the field. I believe all therapy should be tailored to the client and what makes them most comfortable, and I would like to see wider spread implementation of that idea as well as a stronger effort within the psychology community to understand autism and how to interact with autistic people without infantilizing, triggering, or otherwise disrespecting them. Overall, I hope to see a general shift in the mental health field towards accessibility, awareness, and multiculturalism because I have watched the current system fail those close to me. This goal is what drives me in the pursuit of my degree, and I plan to spend my life working towards it.