Jandè Thomas

Preferred Pronouns: She / Her / Hers 

Major: Master’s of Education in Counselor Education

Interests: Music, TV, Movies, Mental Health

Class Year: 2024

Involvement: Graduate Assistant for the ACE, Counseling Intern

Why is experiential learning important to you?

When I was in undergrad, I was always very unsure of what I wanted to pursue as a career. I decided to major in Psychology and Global Health because the coursework was interesting, but I did not know what I wanted to do after graduation. It was through my experiences outside the classroom that I was able to test out new things, apply what I learned in the class to real life, and most importantly, see what I did and did not like in different settings and jobs. My experiential learning opportunities helped me to figure out my next steps, whilst developing skills that I still use today. It allowed me to reflect on myself, make decisions, and follow a career path that I feel fits me best, and I know that these types of experiences can do the same for others as well.

How has experiential learning impacted your learning and experience at OHIO? Tell us a story about one of your experiences that you feel demonstrates the power of experiential learning in a real-world context. 

At OHIO, experiential learning has introduced me to students with so many different backgrounds and stories that they have shared with me. Also, I traveled to Thailand through the Office of Global Opportunities, and was able to understand how to better communicate with people from different cultures. During this trip, I was able to spend time with and learn from various Thai people, who were kind, patient, and willing to share their culture with me, which I am so grateful for. Being able to practice cross-cultural communication in the beautiful country of Thailand was very special and impactful to me, as I strive to become a mental health counselor who can serve diverse clients and make them feel heard, safe, and welcomed in the therapy space.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

I am really not sure, but I hope to be making a meaningful impact in the mental health field, possibly as a professor, and overall, feeling happy! I think it would be interesting to be teaching and mentoring new counselors, and still be able to work with college students in some capacity.