Hobbies and interests
Yearbook
Tennis
Painting and Studio Art
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Social Work
Badminton
Community Service And Volunteering
Reading
Politics
Historical
Adult Fiction
Realistic Fiction
Biography
Psychology
I read books multiple times per week
Gracie Beecher
2,755
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FinalistGracie Beecher
2,755
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FinalistBio
My name is Gracie Beecher.
One of the most influential events that have shaped me into who I am is my sister's diabetes diagnosis - a lifelong disease of torture - with expensive, unattainable insulin. Then my brother was diagnosed with a brain tumor. His diagnosis affected his Pituitary gland, stopping his growth and devastating our family with multiple brain surgeries.
These debilitating health conditions have led certain members of my family to turn to alcohol and benzodiazepine abuse, altering my family and home life immensely. After years of counseling and therapy, my family is still struggling, but managing these life-altering substance addictions.
One day I desire to work in a setting that can provide people, like my family, with affordable, good quality, life-saving, counseling. My family has been through immense trauma, and therapy and other counseling services have saved all of us tremendously. I want to specialize in personality psychology, substance abuse, and family therapy to restore and repair families who have gone through trauma, much like my own.
Education
Utah State University
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Psychology, General
- Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Minors:
- Criminology
- Social Work
- Law
Green Canyon High School
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Political Science and Government
- History
- Community Organization and Advocacy
- Criminology
- Psychology, General
- Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
- Research and Experimental Psychology
- Social Work
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Career
Dream career field:
Psychology
Dream career goals:
Personality Psychologist
Broadcast Facilitator
Utah State University2023 – Present1 yearWedding Planning Assistant
2022 – Present2 yearsNanny
2019 – 20212 yearsEditor In Chief
Green Canyon Yearbook2021 – 20221 year
Sports
Tennis
Varsity2018 – 20213 years
Awards
- Region Champion
Research
Fine and Studio Arts
AP Board — Student2021 – 2022English Language and Literature, General
AP Board — Student2021 – 2022English Language and Literature, General
AP Board — Student2021 – 2022Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AP Board — Student2020 – 2021Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AP Board — Student2019 – 2020
Arts
AP Art
Painting2021 – Present
Public services
Volunteering
Green Canyon Peer Tutor Program — Life Skills Assistant2019 – 2020Advocacy
Gay-Straight Alliance — Volunteer2021 – PresentAdvocacy
Students Against Slavery — Volunteer2020 – Present
Future Interests
Advocacy
Politics
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Entrepreneurship
Jeannine Schroeder Women in Public Service Memorial Scholarship
I am working, and hope to work, with those afflicted by personality disorders. I have an utter infatuation with personality disorders, largely due to my personal experience with them. There are three clusters of personality disorders, Cluster A: The Odd and Eccentric Cluster, Cluster B: The Dramatic and Erratic Cluster, and Cluster C: The Anxious and Fearful Cluster. I have two family members who have personality disorders in the Cluster C classification. My dad has been diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, otherwise known as OCPD. This is very different than OCD. My sister also has a diagnosed Cluster C classification, Avoidant Personality Disorder, otherwise known as AVPD. These personality disorders can be debilitating, and I have made it my drive in life to learn, educate, and vocalize the seriousness of these disorders. I plan to receive my undergraduate in psychology - then specialize in studying personality disorders for my graduate education. I desire to help people suffering from these personality disorders. One day I yearn to clinically counsel people with these disorders, helping them feel confident and competent. Advocating for these individuals is desperately needed within our society, my education is a mission to help those millions drowning in their personality disorders.
Firstly, to properly advocate for those suffering from OCPD, one must understand it. Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder is characterized by immense frustration, rigidness, and anxiety regarding everyday tasks. My dad has a rigid adherence to routine, slightly wandering from this routine causes him great amounts of anxiety. Another frustrating symptom of OCPD is hoarding. This symptom and disorder often develop in those who grew up poor, this is the case for my dad. My dad has the mental incapability of throwing away an item, no matter their monetary value or condition. This is most likely due to his poverty-stricken childhood. This hoarding causes him and my other family members great stress and turmoil. OCPD largely has to do with the incapability to delegate. My dad has the mental mindset that he has to do everything himself, and he has incredible difficulty asking for help. My dad's routine involves extensive cleaning, if he is not vacuuming the carpet or wiping windows, his anxiety is at a peak high. My dad is just one of many who suffer from this condition. It's the most common personality disorder, affecting 3-8% of Americans.
Secondly, understanding Avoidant Personality Disorder is crucial to understanding my plight in helping those with these conditions. My younger sister has been diagnosed with this condition. This is significant because personality disorders usually cannot be diagnosed until one is an adult, my sister's case is so serious that doctors gave her this diagnosis regardless. AVPD is characterized by extreme social anxiety in situations, insurmountable self-doubt, over-catastrophizing problems, and a poor self-image. This disorder is incredibly isolating, it involves much pain and suffering for those afflicted with it. My sister hasn't made a single friend in seventeen years, feelings of fear, distrust, and self-loathing ultimately trump one's inner desire for friends. This disorder is one of the most emotionally taxing.
Ultimately, I am working to address these underlooked social issues by furthering my education. I want to become a licensed therapist, specializing in these disorders. This summer I plan to work within a research group researching personality disorders. Hopefully, more awareness can be spread by doing this. Within counseling, personality disorders are solved by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy, DBT. Immersing myself in these therapies can help me help victims of these disorders. This social issue is severely underlooked, yet I plan to make a difference.