Emilie Parham
School Psychologist
EMP Psychological Services, LLC
Columbus, GA USA
“You're not always gonna know if what you're doing is right. You just have to take it one day at a time, one step at a time, and be true to yourself.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationEmilie Parham
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
Got her undergraduate degree in fashion and apparel design—interned in New York City with Liz Claiborne and later became an assistant buyer for the Ralph Lauren and Ann Taylor retail stores.
Tired of the harsh New York winters, she moved back to the South where she worked in marketing for an insurance firm, and then later in magazine design.
After her marriage, she moved to rural Meriwether County, Georgia, where she struggled to figure out her next career move due to how isolated the area is.
Has always had a passion for helping people with physical and mental disabilities, and decided that she wanted to pursue a career as a special education teacher.
Participated in the Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy, which helps people with degrees in subjects other than education get a jobs as teachers and receive on-the-job training.
After having her first child, she became a stay-at-home mom, but quickly realized that wasn’t the right move for her, so she began working on her first master’s degree in educational leadership.
She was encouraged by one of her coworkers in Meriwether County to pursue an additional master’s degree in school psychology, and has been working in that field ever since.
Says her favorite part of her job is working with students—who are struggling with various learning issues—figure out how to make school work for them so they can excel.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
School Psychologist
I am a school psychologist helping students learn and teachers teach.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Science
Learning / Being Challenged
Day to Day
It changes every single day. A big part of my job is the assessment of students. Students who have special needs have to have a full psychological evaluation before they are eligible for special education classes. I administer those tests and determine whether they need to be tested again. I also do a lot of consultations with teachers and parents to ensure that we are meeting all the needs of the students.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
Get internships in the field you are interested in.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"I'm 30 years old, I can't go back to graduate school now."
Challenges I Overcame
Relocation
Divorce
Interviewed By
Georgia State University Roadtrip
Georgia State University students and alumni
