Catherine Normand

Ah, OK. Good question. So, like I was saying earlier, during my undergraduate studies, I majored in psychology. At first, I really wanted to pursue a career in mental health—specifically as a therapist or counselor—because I've always cared about others, and I feel like mental health is so important, especially in college. You know, that transition can be a lot. As someone who's dealt with anxiety and depression, I really get it.

But then, as I learned more about industrial-organizational psychology and saw how it bridges the gap between science and practice in the workplace, I felt like there was a niche there. There’s such a need for people in the workplace to have those same kinds of mental health experiences acknowledged, but it’s just not talked about as much. I also wanted a career where I could use my research skills. During undergrad, I worked as a research assistant and lab manager, and I absolutely loved it. It felt like the perfect way to combine those two passions of mine.

So, I applied to the program, and when I got in, I was so excited and thrilled. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but like I said, my cohort was such a tight-knit group. I think it’s so important to support one another and be collaborative, especially because grad school can be such a challenging experience if you’re not used to that kind of environment.

Through the EDGE Center, I joined one of the workshops on imposter syndrome, which is something that’s so common. I know I’ve experienced it myself. But talking to my cohort and realizing that we’re all in the same boat really helped. It’s nice to have people you can relate to and share those experiences with.

Yeah, that's a great question. So, our capstone is coming up, and I’ve been brainstorming different ideas. My boss at Owls—where I’m doing my internship—actually brought up the idea of maybe working on a project with them for my capstone. So I’ve been trying to think of some ideas.

One thing I’ve been considering is a panel I attended about love and leadership. They talked about having an empathetic leadership approach and how it can be really hard to do, especially given the challenges that come with being in that kind of position. Some of the ideas that came up in the panel involved crystallized intelligence versus fluid intelligence in an AI-driven world. Basically, the difference is that crystallized intelligence is more structured, while fluid intelligence is more about creativity. I’ve been thinking about how to maintain fluid intelligence in a world dominated by AI.

I’d also like to tie in the love-based leadership approach somehow. I’m still kind of working on how I could combine all of that into my capstone. So we’ll see—I’m hoping the idea turns into something solid, but yeah.

Yeah, good question. I mean, with the work we're doing, I think it's important to consider changes in the workplace too. A lot of RTO mandates—return to office—can really impact mental health. Something I hope comes out of this is being able to enhance employee engagement and job satisfaction, reduce turnover, and just improve things overall.

I really like that, especially with Owls, the internship I’m doing. They really take stress and anxiety into consideration because that’s something we don’t always talk about in the workplace, you know.

I would say maybe the internship, but overall just being able to manage both. I think, at first, I wasn’t sure if I could handle both at the same time. The workload can be a lot, you know?

Also, I’d say some advice I was given has really stuck with me. When I first went to college, my dad told me to prioritize three things: Number one, take care of yourself. Number two, take care of school and work. And number three, have fun. In that order.

Sometimes, when things get overwhelming and I’m just trying to stay organized, it’s helpful to remember that. Taking care of your mental and physical health is the most important thing, number one. Then school and work. And then, of course, having fun. That’s something I try to keep in mind.

So my transition—not just to grad school, but even to college in general—I think it was a lot. Just adapting to being more independent financially, but also learning how to take care of yourself. They’ve been really supportive through that.

And yeah, I’ve had times when I’ve dealt with anxiety or depression, and they’ve always instilled in me how important it is to take care of myself first. Because, just like in the workplace, if you don’t take care of yourself first, you’re not going to be able to be productive or produce good work, you know?

I know my dad went to college, but my mom didn’t. Growing up, I often translated for her. She speaks English, but her first language is Spanish. That was something I had to navigate, and I think experiences like that have really helped me be more humble and appreciative of where I’ve gotten to today. So yeah, I really admire them both—they’re both such hard workers. They’ve been a good influence on me growing up.

And even my cohort has been so supportive. Like I said, we’re always there for one another because you hit roadblocks and setbacks, but it’s so important to remind each other that we’re all in the same boat, and we’re going to get there. I don’t know if you know Sophia Ortiz, but she’s in my cohort, and she and I will pray together. We’ll say, "Gracias, padre Dios. Por favor." You know, like, we’re going to do well on the exam. Little moments like that really help me, and her too.

I would say, maybe just through my own experiences helping others—whatever they’ve been through—and if they’ve been in the same position, I just want them to know they’re not alone in that. Being really inclusive is important to me.

I think another thing that motivates me is something I like to say: "The hungry get fed." Like, if you really want something and you’re driven, if you push yourself, you can achieve it. The starting point is always the hardest, but it’s doable. I try to remind myself of that, especially when I hit a roadblock. I tell myself, "I’ve come this far. I’m not going to quit now." So, you know, I tell myself that in the morning, and it helps me get through the day.

Sometimes, it’s also about recognizing what’s in my control and what’s not. Anxiety can affect me a lot, but being able to say to myself, "That’s something for tomorrow. If it’s not in my control, I’m not going to let it consume me," really helps. It’s been key for navigating grad school and balancing work and life.

This whole process—I’ve never really been someone who celebrates my accomplishments. I tend to get wrapped up in the next thing, thinking, "OK, I’ve got to keep working." So, it’s really nice to hear recognition sometimes, because I don’t always give that to myself. Even having you reach out to me to do this has been such a fun experience.

I also want to thank the EDGE Center—not just for investing in me financially, but for supporting my future and academic career. Having that kind of supportive environment and community is so important. So, thank you.

Wonderful.