Get to Know the Kwantlen Psychology Society

The Kwantlen Psychology Society is a student-led club with the aim of enriching students’ educational experience in the field of psychology through events and community..

The club has been hosting events since it was founded in 2003. It  provides unique resources and lessons from faculty and alumni, teaching students about graduate school, tools used in the psychology field, and inside knowledge from students about their experience in the KPU psychology program.

“As a new person, I was intimidated before I joined, but these guys are pretty chill,” says the club’s treasurer, Kayla Garvin. “Joining the club is not only a good social move, but an academic one as well.”

The club’s vice-president, Cydney Cocking, agrees.

“[The club] is such an advantage to my educational career, with the knowledge and connections you make with this group,” says Cocking. “It’s a good way to have more personal connections with professors and other psychology students you might work with in the future.”

KPS Marketing coordinator Wes Kwok adds that “the club is also a support network.”

“If you do poorly, or feel you are, someone will jump in and offer their hand in help without deducting marks,” says Kwok.

The KPS hosts monthly meetings in the psychology lab on the second floor of the Fir building on the Surrey campus.

“I know some students complain that a lot of the events are too oriented towards science and not enough towards counselling,” says Kwok. “If you come to the meetings, you get a voice in the events that are run.”

“All our meetings are open to students,” says the club’s president, Jon Lau. “We want to hear what students have to say.”

He says he doesn’t regret being a club member of KPS, since he has met many people and made valuable connections throughout his time with the group.

“Most events are specific for psychology students, but our education workshops are geared towards anyone,” says Cocking.

The next event the KPS will be hosting is a CV workshop led by KPU professor Kristie Dukewich. Students will learn how to create their own resume when applying for graduate schools or jobs pertaining to research or academia. It will be held on March 24 at 1:00 pm on Surrey campus in Cedar 1140 and online.

Students should bring their own laptop or join in via Skype for the webinar session. Skype for Business is required, which is downloadable at www.kpu.ca/it/students/sfb.

“The workshop is incredibly useful,” says Garvin. “Until I went, I didn’t know there was a difference between a resume and a CV. Spoiler alert: There actually is.”

“It isn’t easy to juggle school and work, but I hope students get some skills out of the club,” says Lau. “And some friends.”

If you’re interested in joining the KPS, you can contact them at kwantlenpsychologysociety@gmail.com or check out their Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/kwantlenpsych/. For more information, visit their website at www.kps.rocks.