To start with, what’s your preferred name, pronouns if using, year, and program
- Name: Fides Arguelles
- Pronouns: they/them/theirs
- Year: Fourth-year honours student
- Program: B.A. Psychology (Hons.)
Can you tell us about your research?
I am currently an honours thesis student and study coordinator at the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Lab under the supervision of principal investigator Dr. Joelle LeMoult and post-doctorate fellow Dr. Katerina Rnic. My thesis examines the mechanisms underlying increased depression prevalence among minority and minoritized individuals. In particular, this research seeks to empirically assess how stigma-related stress among individuals with minority status may moderate the efficacy of a novel cognitive control training program on rumination and depressive outcomes.
What has been your favourite experience from the psychology honours program?
The opportunities for mentorship and community offered by the program have definitely been a highlight throughout my experience. I am incredibly thankful to Joelle and Katerina for their guidance and unwavering support in helping me further develop my research interests and pursue my work within a safe and inclusive environment. The friendships I’ve also made with fellow honours students have been meaningful given that much of the rigour of academic research involves sitting down and writing, and this can be tough to do alone. All this to say, the best of my research I owe to the time spent in collaboration and mutual support with others.
Has your perspective on psychology changed since you’ve been in the program?
Because of how diverse our honours cohort is in terms of thesis topics, research interests, and backgrounds, I’ve had the chance to engage with topics I’ve never considered before. Going into the program, I’ve only every considered clinical psychology as a career endeavor. While the honours program has been formative in helping me hone in on my interest within this field, I can also understand the gaps in research that my classmates from different streams are passionate about addressing just as passionately.
Do you have advice for anyone considering applying for the honours program?
While the honours program can provide avenues for you to grow as a researcher, what you take from the program ultimately comes from what you make of it. I think that while writing an application, it’d be helpful to think about what particular opportunities you’d like to take advantage of while in the program. I’m sure many of the experiences highlighted in this article can attest to these opportunities!