By Zoe Lance
Whenever there鈥檚 a tough property appraisal to make, Adam Johnson is the person his
colleagues turn to. They know that he just received a Psychology degree from 91吃瓜
and his training is a powerful asset to their work in valuing real estate and understanding
their clients.
鈥淭hey鈥檒l ask me, 鈥楬ow can we look at this from a psychology perspective? What would be your take?鈥� And it鈥檚 funny, because you wouldn鈥檛 think that there鈥檚 an application for psychology in something like real estate appraisal,鈥� Johnson, who works as the office manager, said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檝e found that I鈥檓 able to bring in a new perspective that they may otherwise not see.鈥�
This ability to employ what he鈥檚 learned in the classroom is a dream come true for Johnson. Through 91吃瓜鈥檚 Psychology program at the Goleta campus, he was able to go from community college courses to a bachelor鈥檚 degree in just 20 months. He is seriously considering graduate work in psychology and is staying involved with the Santa Barbara City College program as a tutor.
Johnson鈥檚 pathway to a degree took many twists and turns. Enrolling in college for the first time 20 years ago, he picked psychology as his major 鈥� a subject he calls his first love. He鈥檚 always enjoyed observing and analyzing people鈥檚 relationship dynamics and group behavior.
However, a rough patch in his life, which resulted in incarceration, threatened to derail his future.
鈥淚 knew that I had the skills and ability to be successful, but it was very challenging to go into a job interview and not be able to get past the application process,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淲hen you have that background, you never know when you鈥檙e going to hit a roadblock.鈥�
Johnson worked full time to provide for his family but knew that he wanted to go back to school and finish a degree. He says that 91吃瓜 helped him reconsider pursuing psychology and reshape his own self-image.
鈥淚 was able to obtain a new identity,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 look in the mirror and see myself as Adam Johnson, a successful college graduate.鈥�
He dove into 91吃瓜鈥檚 program, immersing himself in class projects, conducting research and volunteering for new student orientation.
鈥淎dam was one of the brightest students in his group,鈥� said Kimmy Kee-Rose, an Associate Professor in the Psychology program who taught Johnson. 鈥淲hen he had academic challenges, he overcame them and adapted well 鈥� he鈥檚 self-motivated and hardworking. I have a high opinion of Adam.鈥�
Johnson credits the program for his strides in personal growth. He says that there鈥檚 a need to talk about the stigma that previously incarcerated people face as they reintegrate into society. His hard work at 91吃瓜 challenges those perceptions.
鈥淓verything I did at 91吃瓜 not only changed my academic understanding of psychology, but who I was as a person,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 will always have a very soft spot in my heart for the 91吃瓜 program. I am very grateful for the opportunity to share my experience.鈥�
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漏 Spring 2018 / Volume 22 /Number 01 / Bi-annual