Meet Thao Nguyen

Thao is 22 years old and from Vietnam

She did her BSc in Psychology at Erasmus University Rotterdam

Her main interests are: (positive) organizational psychology, developmental & educational psychology, psycholinguistics

You can reach out to her on LinkedIn

What inspired you to pursue the IDA Master program?

I really liked the close-knitted community and support we have. The traineeships and possibility to closely work with professors as well also interested me. Additionally, IDA is an interdisciplinary program, which I really like because I have a broad range of interests that I want to explore.

What motivates you to pursue this field of study, and what personal significance or purpose do you find in it?

I think Psychology is my answer after I realized I most often wonder and ask myself questions about the human condition. I like thinking about “Why did person A do this?” and all the possible explanations for it. Psychology was what I think would offer me the answers.

Which field do you see yourself pursuing after completing the program?

Ideally, I want to work in industry, something related to Organizational Psychology and worker’s wellbeing, while also being involved with research. I want to pursue a PhD one day, but I’m not sure if immediately after IDA yet 🙂

Looking at the program schedule, which courses are you most excited about and why?

To be honest, every course offers something new and interesting to me. But I think I’m most excited about the International traineeships, because we get to collaborate with other universities or go to conferences for it. I like having practical field experiences in such a theoretical study 🙂 I also look forward to learning Programming, since it’s a very applicable skill.

Do you ever feel stressed or under pressure in your studies? How do you manage those challenges? Any tips to share?

I’m perpetually stressed in my studies 🙂 But I think talking about it with my cohort really helps. We pull each other through and are always encouraging and motivating towards one another (even though we might also be stressed ourselves). I also like to take small breaks when I can, (try to) maintain good lifestyle routines (eating, sleeping, going outside,…), and tell myself just keep moving forward and take it small, day by day.

What motivates you to keep going when things get tough?

I think about how privileged I am to be studying all these interesting things in such a supportive environment, and try to appreciate the program instead. I also look back at all we’ve been through and accomplished to see that this, too, shall pass. I am also surrounded by amazing, supportive friends who remind me that I can do it and have great beliefs in me that I don’t want to disappoint.

How do you see the skills and knowledge from the IDA Master being applied in the real world?

Although not a concrete part of the curriculum, I think the soft skills we gain from working with the professors and other colleagues become handy anywhere, whether you work in academia or not. I also think the statistics courses are certainly important and widely applicable, especially when reading research articles.

What do you enjoy most about collaborating with your peers, supervisors, or being part of the IDA community?

I love how everyone has great critical-thinking and that we all have different opinions reflecting our diverse background. Most importantly, I love how we can articulate our opinions respectfully and engage in stimulating, meaningful discussions. I think such discussions are crucial for good collaborations and high-quality work.

How would you describe your relationship with the faculty in the IDA program? How does this influence your learning experience?

The faculty is always there for me when I need them, and they are very within-reach. They are very personable and always willing to offer help. I feel that, particularly for Yvonne, the support we are given really prioritizes us and our development as students, which I really appreciate.

How would you describe an “IDA student”? What common qualities do they share, and who do you think is best suited for this program?

I think an “IDA student” is first and foremost curious, because we’re all doing research 🙂 I think we are also all very conscientious, motivated, and enjoy theoretical discussions, especially about topics we’re interested in. Someone who likes doing psychological research I think would really find their place in IDA.

Is there anything you wish you had known before starting that would have made your journey smoother, and what advice (or tip) would you give to someone just beginning the program?

Prepare well. This includes preparing for the program before it begins and preparing for each lesson during the lecture periods. It also means prepare study-wise as well as psychologically. I struggled a lot to keep up at first because I didn’t have time to prepare for the program, and it took me a lot of time to slowly get a rhythm back.