{"id":8359,"date":"2026-05-01T18:23:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T22:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chandraalilijah.com\/?p=8359"},"modified":"2026-05-02T00:26:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T04:26:16","slug":"if-i-became-the-psych-sike-by-c-alilijah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chandraalilijah.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/01\/if-i-became-the-psych-sike-by-c-alilijah\/","title":{"rendered":"if I became the psych…sike… by. C. Alilijah"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What would that have looked like?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s May 2026. About 5 years later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What would that have looked like?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I was working with my little cousin on an essay about his future, scrolling through my high school Google Account, finding old essays, and reminiscing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It felt like yesterday I had written down my top college choices, applied, and asked for recommendation letters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Years later, I smile at my discoveries. I did know Chandra at 18, even at 19. Did I ever not know myself? Did I find myself losing myself?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We gotta talk about the journey of how your younger years are you knowing yourself, forgetting you know you, knowing yourself, and then finally being like, “Nah, I was always her.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s not the point<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I read an essay during my findings where I wrote that my career interest was child psychology. For context, in the summer of 2016, I worked at the hospital helping moms after birth, and it fueled my desire to work with children. Plus, my love for children! I truly enjoyed working with them, playing with them, and being a vessel in their success. Still do. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But writing was calling my name as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At that time, I was heavy on Wattpad, writing original stories and fanfictions. I’ve come a long way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, why no child psychology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While I know I could’ve succeeded in that field and received my degrees and title, it wasn’t aligned with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do I know?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was sitting at my little cousin’s dinner table and said, “I probably wouldn’t be here right now.” But I knew that kid sitting there needed me, and I’ve been honored to be in their life. It felt like confirmation. I was placed where I am currently because the children around me needed me first, and that came without a healthy student loan bill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A simple Friday night with a sweet realization: you picked a career that aligned, but God was always in control. He was the pilot before I even got to the cockpit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I could end it right here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommended Posts<\/h2>\n\n\n