HCUCF: Tell me about yourself.
Wolcott: I was born and raised in South Florida. I am a doctoral candidate in the Industrial and Organizational Psychology Program here at UCF, and an instructor in the psychology department.
HCUCF: What made you want to go into psychology?
Wolcott: Well, I’ve always had an interest in psychology, because it is fascinating to me how mysterious the workings of the human mind are. We think we are the sole influence on our actions, but there are so many other factors that go into why we do what we do. I thought it would be a good foundation as a bachelor’s degree because there is literally no job that doesn’t require some understanding of humanity. Then as I studied more, I knew I wanted to keep going and learn everything I could.
HCUCF: Is there a division of psychology that interests you the most? Why?
Wolcott: Well, I am specializing in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, which is the application of psychology to the workplace in improving conditions for both the worker and the organization. I think I am so drawn to that because we spend more time in our lives working than doing any other activity. Something that takes up that much of people’s time on Earth deserves some attention, and to be part of a field that helps make that time fulfilling and amazing is wonderful. My research also focuses on discrimination and mistreatment (ending it, not promoting it), so it’s great to be able to make a difference for people who are part of marginalized groups. My dissertation is actually introducing a type of harassment against women for perceptions of not complying to stereotypical gender norms, and I’m so excited for that to be able to inform research and policy and help make a difference.
HCUCF: What’s your favorite part about teaching at UCF?
Wolcott: My favorite part about teaching at UCF is honestly, just being able to teach. When I started here, I was so nervous, and I was just hoping I got an assignment other than teaching because it terrified me, and then I got up in front of my first classroom and I absolutely loved it. I love sharing everything that I find so fascinating about the field with others and being able to help students in their educational careers. But I am also privileged to be able to interact with so many people. I also love the environment here, there is always something going on, and there are so many resources available to students, it is really a great place to learn.
HCUCF: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Wolcott: I really love reading, and even after reading e-mails and research and lesson plans all day, I will still go home and curl up with a book on a perfect day. I’m not picky about genres either, I will read an instruction manual for something I don’t even own if it looks interesting enough. Grad school is a major time commitment, so I don’t have too much free time anymore to pursue hobbies, but that shouldn’t discourage anyone from pursuing higher education; it is absolutely worth it, I promise. I am doing it voluntarily.
HCUCF: How would you sum up your college years?
Wolcott: Non-traditional. I took four years to get my associate’s degree because honestly, I was burned out on school and had real interest in it, so I took classes sometimes and sometimes I didn’t and I slacked off, but I really needed that time to find what I wanted out of life. Some people don’t and that is amazing, but it’s what I needed. Once I got my associates, I moved to Georgia and lost a lot of credits by transferring to a different state, so my bachelor’s took me longer than usual, but it gave me an amazing opportunity to get involved in a lot of student organizations and community service projects that I cared about and that made a huge difference for me in leading me to the field I am in now. So, the moral of the story is, everyone’s journey is different and there is no “right” way to do a college experience. Someone was telling me recently about getting pressure in high school from guidance counselors to have life planned out, but it’s okay if it’s not.
HCUCF: What would you tell your 18-year-old self if she could see you now?
Wolcott: Well, I would be graduating from high school, so I would probably say, “Hey, you know how you’re so excited to never set foot in a classroom again? Well, have I got news for you…” In all seriousness, I would say that all of the things that you thought were going to end your life forever didn’t, so congratulations on that! I wouldn’t want to alter anything that I did though, I feel the experiences I had both good and bad led me to the person I am and where I am today, so I have to embrace all of it. It’s funny you should ask that question because I often feel like I need my 18-year-old self to talk to me. Graduate school is a marathon, not a race, and it’s easy to get lost and feel like you’re not going anywhere sometimes, and every so often I have to tell myself that if 18-year-old me could see me now, she would be impressed so I must be doing good.
HCUCF: Any advice for students interested in pursuing psychology?
Wolcott: Yes!! Take every class you can get your hands on! Even if you think you know what area you want to go into, take classes outside of it and I take a lot. The only way you can know for sure if you are really passionate about something is to become immersed in it first-hand. But you want to have breadth in that experience. A lot of people go in thinking that they want to do clinical psychology because it is the “prototypical” view of a psychologist and then they take a neuroscience or an I/O class and they realize that they have a passion for it. Also, get to know your professors, they will be the ones writing letters for you for grad school, so make sure you are always polite and professional, and stand out from the crowd. Get involved in organizations like Psi Chi to help grow your network. And if you think you want to go to grad school, get involved in research early…which is another great reason to get to know your professors.
*All photos provided by Prof. Wolcott.