Marim Lambalk
What is it like to be a Psychology student? Three questions for Marim Lambalk (bachelor, developmental psychology).
What is the most useful thing that you’ve learned from Psychology?
‘Wow, I have to think about that for a second. I guess the most useful thing I’ve learned from Psychology is that ‘normal’ doesn’t really exist. When I was learning about the DSM and classification I realized that a lot of people have many problems. Before I started studying I thought of people with a diagnosis as being very different from me. Now I realize that everyone has their own baggage, some just have a label for it, but that doesn’t mean they are really unusual. People’s behavior and characteristics lie on a long continuum and can’t really be classified.’
What do you like and dislike about Psychology at UvA?
‘I think what I like most is the professors, as they are often involved in the working field as well as lecturing. Especially now that I’m in my third year, I have a lot of professors that have written a book or are researchers in their field. If you look them up online, you find a lot of information on them. The professors are very good and know what they’re talking about. What I dislike is the way things are organized sometimes. If a little thing goes wrong, it is immediately followed by a lot of chaos. You really have to find out a lot by yourself. For example, often when a teacher sends a link, the link doesn’t work or the books that you need for the course aren’t the same books you bought. Because there are so many students, I think everything should be organized a little better.’
What is your best college experience so far?
‘I think the skiing trip I went on in January last year with the VSPA was my favorite. I became a lot closer to many fellow students. I liked hanging out with people from the VSPA every night. We all complained together about the employees of the apartments we stayed in, since they were very unhelpful, and we had a lot of fun playing in the snow. I got the feeling we were on a camp or school trip and I really liked that.’
Marim Lambalk
What is it like to be a Psychology student? Three questions for Marim Lambalk (bachelor, developmental psychology).
What is the most useful thing that you’ve learned from Psychology?
‘Wow, I have to think about that for a second. I guess the most useful thing I’ve learned from Psychology is that ‘normal’ doesn’t really exist. When I was learning about the DSM and classification I realized that a lot of people have many problems. Before I started studying I thought of people with a diagnosis as being very different from me. Now I realize that everyone has their own baggage, some just have a label for it, but that doesn’t mean they are really unusual. People’s behavior and characteristics lie on a long continuum and can’t really be classified.’
What do you like and dislike about Psychology at UvA?
‘I think what I like most is the professors, as they are often involved in the working field as well as lecturing. Especially now that I’m in my third year, I have a lot of professors that have written a book or are researchers in their field. If you look them up online, you find a lot of information on them. The professors are very good and know what they’re talking about. What I dislike is the way things are organized sometimes. If a little thing goes wrong, it is immediately followed by a lot of chaos. You really have to find out a lot by yourself. For example, often when a teacher sends a link, the link doesn’t work or the books that you need for the course aren’t the same books you bought. Because there are so many students, I think everything should be organized a little better.’
What is your best college experience so far?
‘I think the skiing trip I went on in January last year with the VSPA was my favorite. I became a lot closer to many fellow students. I liked hanging out with people from the VSPA every night. We all complained together about the employees of the apartments we stayed in, since they were very unhelpful, and we had a lot of fun playing in the snow. I got the feeling we were on a camp or school trip and I really liked that.’
