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Stepping Out of Her Comfort Zone – Alex Kandah

For Alex Kandah, ’18, going to medical school has been the plan for as long as she can remember; but after taking a few psychology courses at Meredith, she developed a more specific interest in a career in the mental health field.

As a psychology major with minors in biology and chemistry, her long term goal is to become a psychiatrist. Alex says the opportunities and mentors she has gained at Meredith are helping pave the way for this dream to become a reality.

“I would be lost without my advisor, Dr. Edwards,” said Alex. “She has set me up with internships and research projects that will help me get into medical school.”

Alex is currently conducting undergraduate research that involves a longitudinal study of adult attachment. She is also on her second internship in the mental health field. During her first, she got the chance to sit in on substance abuse meetings around Raleigh. “That was a really interesting and incredibly eye-opening experience,” said Alex.

This semester, she is gaining experience working with individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities as an intern at the Tammy Lynn Center.

On top of research and internships, Alex is a member of both Alpha Lambda Delta and Psi Chi, serves as a student advisor, and is the vice president of PEARLS (Peers Educators Advocating Responsible LifeStyles).

She also studied abroad in London at King’s College where she took a course on psychology and terrorism. “The students in my class were from all over the world and our professor was from Israel, so I was able to hear many different perspectives on the subject,” said Alex. “It was a once in a lifetime experience.”

Alex credits Meredith for not only providing her with the opportunities and experiences she has had, but for also giving her the confidence to pursue them in the first place.

“Meredith has fostered an environment for me to feel confident in stepping out of my comfort zone,” she said. “It’s an incredibly strong network of women and professors that I know I can count on for the rest of my life.”

By Cailyn Clymore, ’18


Learn more about the psychology major