Women's and Gender Studies

Emily Belongia

Behavioral treatment technician for children with autism
UWO ’19 Psychology major, Women’s and Gender Studies minor, LGBTQ Studies certificate
UWO ’22 MSE in Professional Counseling, Clinical Mental Health emphasis (expected)

Why did you choose UWO?
I chose UWO because I knew it had a good psychology program. Then during my freshman year of college, I took an Intro to WAGS course as a gen ed and realized I connected with the coursework. I loved learning about diversity, oppression and privilege and knew I wanted to bring that knowledge into my future counseling career. I went in the second week of school and switched my second major of criminal justice to WAGS. Best decision I have ever made.

How has Women’s and Gender Studies impacted your decisions about your career goals?
I realized that with my women’s and gender studies education, I have gained the knowledge and ability to be an advocate and an ally. As a clinical mental health counselor, understanding the intersectionality of my clients will be my priority. By learning more about varying genders, sexual orientations, abilities and other women’s and gender studies material, I will better serve my clientele.

What is your career goal after graduating?
After graduating from my Master’s program, I hope to serve the groups I am most passionate about. These groups include the LGBTQ+ community, women of color, people with disabilities, and folks who are facing different oppressions in society. My passion stems from the fact that many individuals in these oppressed groups have limited access to mental health care providers that specialize in and understand their unique experiences.

Do you have any advice you’d like to share with current students?
Don’t stress about getting perfect grades. At the end of the day, an employer isn’t going to ask you what you got in a specific class. Self-care should be priority because when you don’t take care of your mind and body, you won’t be able to focus on your work. Don’t be afraid to try new things along the way including that class you aren’t sure about. You never know when you’ll find something you’re passionate about.