Dr. Horace Smith is a counselor who works with youth who have experienced abuse. The author interviews him because they both work in mental health fields helping children. Dr. Smith got his bachelor's and master's in psychology and social work, then a doctorate degree. He applied to many jobs helping children and enjoys making a difference in their lives daily. He advises the author to choose a career helping others and making an impact, not just for money. The author is now more motivated to become a school psychologist after learning from Dr. Smith.

1. Lashanna Parker
Networking/Informal Interview Paper
University 390
The person I selected within my networks to have an interview with was one of my
mother’s colleagues. He goes by the name of Dr. Horace Smith where his job profession is a
counselor for youth. For those youths that has been physically, mentally, and verbally abused by
their parents or even other outsiders. I chose him because I feel that his job description and my
future job description are quite similar. My career choice is to be a school psychologist, where I
would apply my expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth
succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally.
In addition, my interview went quite well. I learned a lot and I feel I have gained
knowledge through Dr. Smith. In the beginning of our interview I had set aside basic questions
that I wanted to ask Dr. Smith. He got into his career by receiving his bachelor’s degree in social
work and psychology. He then attended graduate school to receive his master’s degree in
psychology to become a counselor. Shortly after receiving his masters he furthered his education
and got his doctorate degree. “You are guaranteed a well-paying job when you have a higher
degree,” said Dr Smith. Just like any college student after graduation, he put in several job
applications in career fields that he had expertise in which were the degrees he received. He
applied to rehabilitations centers, children’s hospitals, and even some prisons. There were plenty
other jobs he applied to but the job he really wanted was to work with children.
Furthermore, as the interview progressed I wanted to obtain more information from Dr
Smith’s about his career path. I then asked him what he enjoyed the most about being a

2. counselor for children. Although his passion was working with children, he also worked with
adults as well. Working with adults was different than working with children per Dr Smith. What
he loved about his job was that he got a chance to make a difference in children lives every day.
It was not about the money he made, but it was about being an advocate for these children he
worked with every day. In his opinion, he feel that those children even older teens were more
receptive to him than their own parents. According to Dr Smith, “some kids just can’t talk to
their parents about abuse and how they feel about things because their parents are the ones
abusing them.” Which I believe that it is true; how can these children and teens talk to their
guardians when the parents are the reason behind all of this. However, because of Dr Smith’s
past and by him being a child once before, he knows what it feels like to be scared to talk and not
open up to people. His past made him who he are today, he love to be the “go to person” in the
time of need.
To sum things up, he gave me recommendation on my career choice. He told me to
choose a career that I look forward to doing for the rest of my life. Not a career on just how
much money they make. But a career that when you wake up in the morning, you know that you
are going to make a difference in someone’s life. He told me do not get distracted by outsiders
telling me, “Oh you have to receive a masters in order to work in the psychology field.” He said
it might be true but there are ways around a lot of things in the world.
Overall, this was the best interview I had to conduct. Everything Dr Smith mentioned I
wrote it down. I have learned so much and now I am looking forward to becoming a school
psychologist or counselor. I want that feeling Dr Smith has as that “go to person” when someone
is in need. I want to make a difference in children and teens lives so that they can live better. I

3. know that it will not be an easy task to become a school psychologist, but I will do what it takes
to accomplish this goal. I am now more motivated.