Navigating Neurodiversity with Nicole: Reflections of a Behavior Analyst in Training - Graceful Ventures: Women Embracing Calling and Career # 2

1. Hi, could you share a little bit about yourself (your name, age, and what your current job is or how far are you along in your journey)? Also share any interesting facts about you or your interests outside of work.

Hi! My name is Nicole, I’m 25, and I currently work as a Registered Behavior Analyst. I’m in grad school right now, trying to become a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst in the future. Ideally, I’ll be done with my program by 2025! A few fun facts about me: I love playing sports (specifically volleyball right now), I recently started to crochet, and I’ve been trying to get back into reading lately!

2. How did you hear/learn about your field? What about it fits your interests or goals at the time?

I was a psychology major finishing up at Queens College in my last semester and I had no idea where to go from there. I considered a bunch of different fields, but I didn’t feel confident enough or interested enough to head a specific direction. At the time, I was lost and I met someone in my class who had told me about this field, and connected me with her boss. I figured starting off in a psychology field, even if it may not be what I wanted exactly at the moment, would be better than being lost.

3. What are the steps that you needed to take to get to where you are now? Was there anything you expected/didn’t expect about the journey?

I first had to finish my undergraduate studies as a psychology major, then follow it up with doing a graduate program for Applied Behavior Analysis (if there isn’t a program for ABA, then psychology is good too!). During the grad school ABA program, there is a requirement of 2000 hours of experience, with 5% of it being supervision hours that a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst will oversee. Once the hours are completed as well as the program, the final step is to take an exam to be board-certified in this field. I had prepared a lot through researching prior to going into this field, so there wasn’t too much that was surprising to me.

4. How was your faith a part of this journey? Was there anything that made you feel like God allowed you to do this line of work? 

I think that there was a reason I got into this field, by God’s grace. After I finished my undergraduate studies, I applied only to one school for the ABA graduate program. I did it because I wasn’t sure if this was where God was calling me to go, and I figured if I got in then this was a sign that I should go into this field. There was also a period of time where I was contemplating if this was actually where I should be going, since working with autistic children do come with challenges especially since I had never worked in this field before. However, after a lot of conversations with friends at my church and my young adult pastor, I felt more encouraged to continue. My young adult pastor said, “It’s rare to see someone go into a field of working with kids with disabilities, especially when it’s not something you wanted to do since you were young.” He said it to me to encourage me that God really is walking with me through this process.

5. What is something most people don’t know about your job? What did you wish more people knew?

With my job, I think the most unexpected thing is that the autistic kids you get to work with you get to build relationships with them because this type of work is long term. I think that working with these kids it can be challenging, but there aren’t enough people in this field who work with kids with disabilities.

6. What made the sacrifices you’ve made to pursue this career path worth it? If you don’t feel like it was worth it, why is that?

I think that when I work with young kids, it’s such a privilege to watch them grow, no matter what type of job I’m in. When I see how I’ve affected them or took part in their lives, even just a little bit, it gives me joy. When I compare the sacrifices I’ve had to make to pursue this career path (not too many sacrifices honestly), it’s easy to see more of the pros than the cons.

7. What is a typical day/week in your life like?

Since I’m still in graduate school, I only work part time. I usually have night classes online and the days that I don’t have class I go to work! My work is home-care so I work with kids in their houses, so it is a bit of traveling if there are multiple kids to see throughout the weeks. I usually work Saturdays as well, and then I keep Sundays for church! On a typical day, I would go out to a cafe in the early afternoon and finish up some school work I have to do before I head to work in the late afternoon/ nights. At work, usually once I get there I start a session with the child I’m working with for that day. It can vary depending on the type of behaviors that the child is working towards,

8. Flash forward 5 years, where do you see yourself in your career? If you’re not in the same field you’re in now, why did you make that change?

If I think about 5 years from now, I could see myself potentially working in a school as well as continuing to do home-care with individual kids. It would be ideal to work that way so that I could work throughout the day as well as later in the day/ nights.

9. Looking back, what would you tell yourself? 

I would tell myself that it’s not worth worrying about graduating on time or keeping up with my friends. I was constantly feeling ashamed of graduating late while I knew my friends were all graduating within the 4 years. Looking back, I now realize it wasn’t important enough to worry about, and I should have focused on things that were more of a priority then. When I see my life now and see my friends, we’re all going through life at our own paces. Some of us go straight to graduate school while others work full time, but then some people decide to go back to school after working too, so no one’s pace in life matters besides your own.

10. What would you tell anyone interested in this field? 

I would tell anyone interested that this field is pretty needed, but I will say that it takes the right heart to work with kids that have disabilities – whether mental, physical, etc. It is a bit of a challenge, but if you feel that this is something you have a heart for, I would say to go for it! Don’t be discouraged at the challenges life throws your way.

11. Can you be contact or reached if someone has any further questions?

Yes! (Contact me for more information)