Why Choose Psychology at Outspan Medical College

My arrival at OMC in March 2011, was full with high expectations of graduating as a nurse to fulfill my longtime dream of working in a hospital. Little did I know that my grades in Math’s and chemistry would be an obstacle to the nursing class and suddenly I felt like all is lost.  As I was internalizing this piece of information, I found myself seated across a bubbly and cheerful Ms. Cathy who introduced me to the Outspan Medical College Clinical Counseling and Psychology department. Even though I never knew anything about Psychology and Counseling, I left that office fully convinced that it’s a course I would love to do. There was something different about this college and especially the Psychology department, in the process of admitting new students that I hadn’t found in my quench for a career in other colleges. The idea of taking time to understand and develop me through counseling sessions, made me feel at ease in a classroom, though I had stayed seven years since I completed high school.  The combination of critical common and major courses in my diploma programme has enabled me to fit into any kind of a health provision setting ranging from an in-patient private and public hospital to an out-patient Ngo based Organization.

I applied for my internship in Kamili Organisation through their website when I was browsing one afternoon in the OMC resource center, and among the many searches that I did this Organisation replied my mail a month later and invited me to visit them.  Being a charitable Organisation that deals with people suffering from mental health issues it was just a perfect platform for maximum exposure to bring out my expertise. The OMC Psychology department team, Ms. Shelly and Ms. Cathy maintained close supervision and mentorship that involved long mails and calls consultations. As I blended with the Organisation’s team and renewed the counseling department, suddenly everything taught in class began to fit in just like a puzzle. From courses in Statistics class, Medical Terminology to Entrepreneurship and this made me feel very proud to have studied at Outspan Medical College.

Upon completion of my 6 month internship, my passion for mental health issues drove me to continue as a volunteer in the same Organisation.  Way before the graduation in OMC, counseling in Kamili had kicked off and the number of clients increased leaving the Organisation with no other option than to employ me full time which they did and therefore making the counseling department to run for 5 days a week instead of 2 days . I recently got confirmed as a permanent staff of the organization, and am in the process of being registered with Kenya Psychological Counselors Association. I also work part-time with one of the best Swimming Club under 18 in Kenya, Seahorses Swim Team at Peponi Preparatory as their Team Psychologist.

I constantly wonder if I could have been any happier if I had stepped into the imagined nursing class, I love what I do right now and my heart flows with gratitude for the wonderful team that made me the counselor that I am. Yes I worked hard in Omc, but my lecturers reinforced and encouraged me with their time, resources and love. I am absolutely sure that Outspan Medical College students are on at the top of my list when I start inviting interns, volunteers and counselors positions for different projects proposed at Kamili. My personal goals include joining university in January 2016 to pursue my degree and master in the next four years.

Lydia Wachira

Alumnus

Outspan Medical College Psychology Department