Walking toward the center of the room, carrying nothing but a small notebook of notes and a confident smile, former Cerritos College graduate made her way behind the podium of SS220 ready to give a sum of her life after graduating from Cerritos, and the steps she took to get her where she is now.

Bindya Bhakta, industrial psychology major, started her college career here at Cerritos after graduating high school.

She attended Cerritos from the 2003 to 2006 graduating, with an associate degree in psychology.

“One of my old professors contacted me and asked me if I would like to speak to the Psychology Club to talk about what I had learned and to give them support and suggestions,” Bhakta explained.

At the age of 23, Bhakta is a UCLA graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

She plans to attend Alliant International University (AIU) in San Diego to receive her PhD in psychology.

She also informed the Psychology Club that she was captain of the cross country and track team when she attended here.

She also was vice president of the Scholars Honors Club.

“The thing is I was just like any student here at Cerritos, I would wake up with anxiety attacks, wondering what I was going to do with my life,” Bhakta remarked.

She told the club members that she found her passion in life while running down the track.

“It just came to me, I knew I liked working with people and helping them,” Bhakta said.

She also mentioned that colleges want well-rounded students.

“Colleges aren’t just looking for that perfect 4.0 average, they want students that are well-rounded, students that were active in their schools,” Bhakta said.

“It’s all about volunteering, being part of different clubs. Cerritos College gave me the opportunity to do exactly that,” Bhakta said.

One of her suggestions toward the psychology students was to do something you love.

To not think about the pay and the hours when you are researching the career, but do it because it’s what you love to do.

“I chose this profession because I love helping people, talking to them and giving them advice,” Bhakta said.

Bhakta’s major is more business-related; since her parents are in the hotel/motel industry she wanted to make sure she could help her parents.

“Being an industrial psychology major allows me to sit down with the employees and the managers and interview them and try to help them in any way possible,” Bhakta explained.

She also works with organizations that have fallen down, and with her skills she tries to get them back together.

Her final piece of advice to college students was simply to join different clubs on campus, get hands on experience with your profession, and to not slack off.

Students appreciated the fact she came down to talk to the psychology club, and the suggestions she recommended for students to take action on.

” The one thing that stood out for me was the advice she gave to the students that hands on experince is key,” said Mario Torres, psychology major.

Torres also mentioned that with him getting hands on experince would make him appreciate the major more.

“What makes it amazing, is that she is so young, and but it proves even though its going to be hard, everything is possible in life”,stated Torres.