Applicant profile

Psychology through careful attention.

A longer view of what I am studying, where I have shown up, and how I am preparing for counselling-focused graduate study in 2027.

Arina Zhurakovskaia
Arina Zhurakovskaia BA Psychology · University of Alberta, Augustana

“I am drawn to the patient work of noticing what people need, asking better questions, and staying steady in complicated moments.”

I am a third-year psychology student at the University of Alberta's Augustana campus in Camrose, Alberta. I transferred to Augustana in 2025 after finishing an Associate of Arts at Douglas College in British Columbia, and I am on track to graduate in May 2027.

The coursework that has shaped me most so far includes Psychological Disorders, Personality Psychology, and Research Methods in Psychology, especially the ethical responsibilities that come with listening, assessment, and academic writing.

Outside of coursework, I have volunteered in youth mental-wellness settings and worked in client-facing support roles. Those settings have been early practice in listening carefully, de-escalating, and making a space easier to enter.

I am applying for practicum and MA counselling pathways for 2027. If your work touches student support, youth programs, applied psychology, or graduate preparation, I would like to hear from you.

Education