About Me
My name is Athena Filias, and I graduated Summa Cum Laude with my
B.A in Psychology. I’ve always been driven by a deep
sense of purpose and a desire to leave the world better than I found it.
While my ambitions are broad, psychology has become the
foundation through which I explore and serve humanity. ​
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At Florida International University (FIU), I nurtured this passion, where my
resolve for advancing scientific knowledge was strengthened.
I worked in two legal psychology labs and served as a Learning
Assistant (LA) for Research Methods I & II. As an LA, I deeply internalized
course material and helped students interpret data and apply statistical
concepts. My lab experiences taught me about inter-rater reliability,
eyewitness interrogation techniques, and the art of data coding.
With the Investigation Lab in particular, I took it a step further and
conducted my own study based on the impact of delay on central and
peripheral details in eye-witness reports. This experience led me to
deepen my understanding of the cognitive processes behind memory
and how that can affect real-world contexts.
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My academic journey has also expanded globally through immersive international experiences by studying abroad in Japan, Taiwan, and India. I knew that in order to become a culturally competent and well-adapted psychologist, I must understand the differences in how other cultures' ways of life impact the way the individual begins to think and interact with others in society. In Japan, I pushed out of my comfort zone to gain a better understanding of how other countries operate and specifically explored cultural influences on cognition through a capstone project comparing individualism and collectivism. In Taiwan, I thrusted myself into cultural immersion, learning traditional Mandarin Chinese from scratch in hopes of unlocking a deeper connection with others, as it is the world's most spoken language outside of English. In India, I wanted to take things a little further to strengthen my skills as a researcher.
One of the main reasons I decided to go to India was to explore how culture, education, and policy intersect in changing societal views and how this impacts access to healthcare. My goal was to better understand how and why inequity persists, and to apply that insight to advocacy and clinical work in the U.S. I achieved this by collecting qualitative research about the relevance of culture on beliefs about medical school training preparation for working with LGBTQ+ Clients in Mysore, India. I analyzed and interpreted data, ultimately turning my findings into a poster presentation. This experience deepened my commitment to using psychology, education, and justice to support marginalized communities and promote equity in care.
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Service learning has been equally transformative in flourishing my enthusiasm for helping others and understanding how one's life circumstances impact their well-being. Through the Alternative Breaks Program, I dedicated my school breaks to addressing issues such as food and housing insecurity, environmental justice, and animal rights in cities such as New Orleans, San Juan, Washington D.C, and Tampa. These experiences grounded me in the realities behind systemic issues that we often read or hear about, but don't always see, thus humanizing the experience. This helped me understand the vital connection between environment, circumstance, and well-being. I have found that in order to see the change I want in the world, I would have to be an active part of bringing about those changes as well.
Outside of academics, I enjoy leading an active lifestyle. The outdoors has provided me with a deep sense of serenity, so I try to spend as much time in nature as possible through activities like hiking, canoeing, swimming, biking, and running. I also enjoy challenging myself physically indoors by going to the gym regularly and switching things up with activities like rock climbing, rollerblading, and ice skating. Artistically, I take pleasure in capturing the beauty of natural canvases (people and nature) through photography. I also express myself through singing and fashion, and I love visiting museums and traveling to deepen my appreciation for different cultures. I am also a huge animal lover (as I originally wanted to be a veterinarian) and try to take care of as many animals as I can. So far, I have adopted 4 stray cats from the neighborhood and pet sit for others when I can. When I want to relax, I unwind by indulging in playing video games or watching series and anime for entertainment.
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Moving forward, I plan to pursue a PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology, focusing on neurological and psychological conditions, with a particular interest in TBI. My goal is to improve the quality of life of as many individuals as I can through both treatment and research. I hope to offer pro bono care and eventually establish a non-profit to provide more accessible mental health treatments. My experience as an LA showed me how fulfilling it is to witness students grasp difficult concepts, inspiring me to pursue a future in academia to bestow the knowledge I have to the next generation. Ultimately, I aim to bridge scientific advancement and clinical care with compassionate service and mentorship.
