Student Spotlight: Joya Bailey

March 8, 2023 - Shelly DeJong

Photo courtesy of Denille Reid, State News photographer 

 

Joya Bailey, from Detroit, is in her third year as a Psychology major with a Human Behavior Social Services minor. In 2022, Joya reactivated the Black Poet Society at MSU. She sat down with us recently to talk about what she loves about psychology and poetry, and how she can use both to be her authentic self and add more love into the world. 

 

How did you end up studying psychology? 

I really knew that I wanted to make people feel better. I was a part of the Mosaic Youth Theatre in Detroit. We did a lot of things to help the community with our talents—really with nothing but ourselves. I loved how we made a big impact on people’s lives—they would cry because they loved our music so much. That really warmed my heart, so I started wondering how I can combine the feeling of making people feel loved, appreciated, and connected with also being myself completely. It got me thinking about psychology-- I can still help people and be myself in this field.  

 

That kind of feeds right into The Black Poet Society. Can you tell me what led you to re-activating the Black Poet Society group?   

Going into high school, I wasn't the most confident in my theater or singing abilities, but I knew that I was a great lyricist. Although I didn’t care too much for my voice, I knew the lyrics I wrote were too fire to sit on them. This is when I started exploring the thought, “how I could get my point across but feel confident about it?” I found myself writing my first poem in my freshman year of high school about police brutality. It allowed me to get out everything that I needed to get out. Through the help of my wonderful English teacher, I entered the poem in a poetry contest and receive the opportunity to have my poem featured in a book called The Rising Stars Collection! 

I found myself gaining a community at open mic nights and workshops and it was a very non-judgmental community. I took part in a poetry slam, which allowed me to connect with new people and gave me a platform for people to finally hear what I have to say. It also helped me as a person with my confidence and in how I approach life. Theater taught me that you have to learn how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Poetry always helps me find a way to be comfortable in the most uncomfortable moments. When I came to MSU, I re-activated the Black Poet Society after it went inactive in 2020 due to COVID.  

 

Can you talk about how your interest in psychology and in poetry intersect?  

There are a lot of things that helped shape who I am, why I want to go into psychology, and why I am doing poetry. My family dynamics have had a big impact on me. My little brother is 15 and he has mild autism, which can come with a lot of social anxiety. Growing up, I saw him struggle with making friends and being in social situations even though he is the coolest. He’s helped me develop a lot of compassion that I can apply with everybody. In 2013, my older sister had a traumatic brain tumor that changed her whole life. It was her senior year and she wanted to go to MSU, but she didn’t get the chance because she developed a lot of different health issues. With that being said, as a kid, I had to take on a lot of responsibilities very early. It was kind of a hard dynamic growing up, but it humbled me, and it made me want to love more. I could have chosen to become a product of the environment I grew up in, but instead, my environment led me to want to help people develop into great people! 

I love psychology because I love understanding people. Having a psychology background helps me continuously become more of an open and understanding person. Knowing that everybody’s story is not the same also helps me with poetry. In my psychology courses, I learned about the differences in how people perceive things. This helps me understand that each poem is someone’s OWN words, their own personal experience, and their own perception. I believe that is what makes a poem the most unique and fire; their individual experiences.  

  

What are you considering for your future?  

Right now, I’m a Behavioral Technician at a pediatric therapy center. I really love the job because I help with the learning development for young kids between the ages of two and sixteen. I love it when the kids finally catch on to what we’ve been working on. It’s so rewarding to build that bond with the kids, to help them understand and work through their emotions, and then celebrate their milestones with them. It’s a great environment to be in. I want to continue working in pediatrics and mental health.  

But although I am going to school for psychology, I also see myself doing a lot of other things because I would consider myself the jack of all trades. I'm very creative and I never want to limit myself to just one thing. I love writing and I love to make people feel better. I’d love to put out a poetry book soon. I do plan on going to grad school after I get more experience in the field and after I’ve lived a little. I love learning new things, so I’ll be back to school soon after I graduate. 

  

Have any professors impacted you?  

My favorite professor is Dr. Kas - I really, really love him. He is a great person first off just because of his personality. His class was the only course I felt extremely bad for not attending when I wasn’t feeling the best. I could be having the worst morning, but when I would walk into his class, his energy would just make me want to be there. He’s from New Orleans and he always brought his culture into the classroom. So, even when I was tired in the morning, he always made me want to be in his class. 

His class, Health Psychology, was the first course I ever raised my hand and asked a question in— he made me feel comfortable. The class was really informative which always peaked my interest. We learned about how people get treated in the health field, why communities might be over policed, or the adversity doctors face when dealing with sick patients on the day to day. I believe the thing that was most enlightening for me was understanding how much immigrants have to adjust to America, as that can be hard on them and their children, just wanting their kids to have a better life than what they had. The class helped shape my approach as a Behavioral Technician and in life. It helped remind me to look at people holistically. 

  

Thank you for talking with us, Joya! Is there anything that you want to add? 

All I can say is that I really love the psychology department. I love that psychology allows me to understand people more and I love the fact that it is something that you can never really get out of your brain. It helps me to be a more compassionate person. 

Also, I suggest that people remember my name because although I had a slow start at MSU with COVID being in the way, I am on my way to doing great things—for our campus community as well as in life!