by Jon Goldberg, San Quentin State Prison, CA
I have just recently discovered my ideal job would be a clinical psychologist, specializing in family/couples therapy.
All my life I searched for my “one person” that could be my wife and start a family. At age 26 I quit looking and concentrated on my property. I decided my dog and I didn’t need anyone else. The minute I stopped looking she found me.
By 27 years old I was beginning the most serious relationship, the one I always dreamed of. A year later I proposed. A year after that I was married and a year later I found what it felt like to be a dad. This lasted 7 1/2 years into my marriage.
I then found out my wife was having an affair with a friend. It destroyed me in every way. I lost everything. Ultimately, my lack of impulse control caused me to make a series of bad decisions. It only took one day to destroy something that took 9 years to build.
David Brooks said, “achievements leads to pride, failure leads to humility and growth.” At my… what was supposed to be my lowest point, motivated me to become the man I was meant to be under the surface all along. I discovered my passion was studying human behavior and healthy relationships.
I read books and absorbed like a sponge all that is psychology. All along the relationships I nurtured all unhealthy. Toxic thinking and emotional ghosts “baggage” started almost every relationship off on the wrong foot.
When I was young I believed I should be in a serious relationship, instead of what I should have been doing concentrating on my education.
In my failed relationships, I found motivation to help others succeed in their family/relationships. Is it possible? Most definitely. I am studying now and I will accomplish this goal. My biggest regrets was dropping out of college at twenty years old, when I had all the opportunity in the world.
I am now two courses away from a dual degree AA in social and behavioral science and an AS in business. I will then work towards a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s from there.
When I was a child I wanted to be a Marine Biologist. I didn’t discover I wanted to be a psychologist until I took my first college course in psychology.
It will take patience and resilience to obtain the level of education required to have this job. Education is the most important thing in life. I was told this as a young man, but was stubborn and didn’t want to listen. If I get this job I will be able to help so many achieve what I always wanted, a truly healthy relationship.
This job will give me the confidence and independence (self-worth) I always dreamed of. This will give me my life purpose. I love helping people and this job will allow me to fulfill or fill a void in my life and hopefully those I will help in the future.