PERSONAL STATEMENT

Generally, my life has been a struggle at times but my hard work, determination, and
enthusiasm for my education and my community has brought me to think about taking my
masters at York University where I can pursue my dream of becoming a clinical
neuropsychologist.

Moreover, I am passionate about helping people with mental health illnesses. I have a
bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology where I have relevant experience. And I have done
some trainings about Clinical psychology and some interventions during the commemoration
period in the April 2018 and during my last internship at CHUK (Kigali University teaching
hospital), I have done and attended different psychotherapy sessions and group therapy of
people with different mental health disorders. Additionally, I did my last academic internship
in Community Based Sociotherapy (CBS) Rwanda where I have gained more skills and
knowledge about sociotherapy approach that they use to help people in their journey of
trauma healing. And it is in that regard that I am writing to you to request a postgraduate spot
in your university because I want to have an advanced understanding about human behavior
and their neurological mental processes.

Furthermore, Clinical psychology department was previously founded in the two universities
in Rwanda which are the University of Rwanda (UR)/ College of Medicine and Health
Sciences (CMHS)/ School of Medicine and Pharmacy; and the University of Kibungo
(INATEK) in eastern province of the country, unfortunately that university was recently
closed by the government. So, by now you can find this department at UR only. But in their
master’s programs, there is no Clinical neuropsychology. I am highly motivated to apply in
this department at your university to be in the first generation of clinical neuropsychologists
in Rwanda. And after graduating , I plan to return in my motherland (Rwanda) and give my
contribution to the Rwandan society in general due to the lack of clinical neuropsychologist
in Rwanda while there are mentally ill patients who need their treatment, so I will take this
opportunity to give my support by doing what I like the most.

Additionally, I am a hardworking-dedicated student who focuses on my studies, yet I have

always enjoyed being involved in extracurricular activities. While in my undergraduate , I
was the president of public relations commission in Clinical Psychology Student’s
Association of Rwanda (CPSAR) and at this position I had the responsibility of
communicating with the organization’s partners, organizing and inviting the speakers for our
events and I did it well as it was required.

I am currently working with the Mental Health and Behavior Research group which is
affiliated on UR / CMHS through the Directorate of Research and Innovation. I specifically
work as the research assistant on the two different projects. One is called UNITED for health
project and the other one is called ICOP (Integrated Community Outreach Programme) where
I am in charge of coordinating and helping in the implementation of the project’s activities.

Conclusively, studying Clinical neuropsychology will give me the opportunity to understand

the relationship between brain and neuropsychological function. And this will also give me
the knowledge of assessing and treating people with brain injuries and neurological illnesses
that can affect the way a person thinks, feels and behaves.

Best regards,
Pacifique IGIRANEZA