Every day, students at Newfield High School go about their routine, yet they never recognize the people that are a main contribution in making their school day possible- the Newfield staff. Recently, I was given the honor of interviewing one of the school’s newest psychologists, Ms. Chiarulli. Graduating from Queens College in 2014, this is her fifth year being a psychologist, and has been recently hired here at Newfield. 

Before working at Newfield, Ms. Chiarulli grew up in Stony Brook. She attended Ward Melville high school, where she had a successful four years as a student. Of all of the classes she took, her favorite two were biology and psychology, both of which were a catalyst for her career in the human relations field. In addition to being a student, she took part in extracurricular activities including the S.A.D.D. club (students against destructive decisions), as well as lifeguarding and waitressing. She also swam for TVSC, or the Three Village Swim Club, making her a student- athlete. After high school, Ms. Chiarulli attended Quinnipiac University for her freshman and sophomore year of college. She later attended Stony Brook University for her junior and senior year, followed by her completion of schooling at Queens College. Throughout her collegiate career, Ms. Chiarulli realized that psychology was the field for her. Describing this as a “snowball effect”, she began taking courses in this area. As “education was instilled as very important” throughout her life, it became known that psychology was the field Ms. Chiarulli came to excel in. She is now a school psychologist at Newfield High School. So far, her experience here has been a positive one that has been enhanced by “being around teachers and students who are welcoming and accepting” to her. 

Outside of her life at Newfield, Ms. Chiarulli loves exercising and learning about the body. Had she not become a psychologist, becoming a physical therapist was a job she would have been interested in doing. Ms. Chiarulli also enjoys television series, including ABC’s This is Us and Friends. If she could meet any three people, she would want to meet Phoebe Buffay, a fictional character from the show Friends, the comedian Ellen DeGeneres, and Celine Dion. 

Ms. Chiarulli’s friendly, kind personality makes her easy to talk with and relate to. These characteristics are main attributes of her success as a psychologist. Newfield High School is lucky to have such an exceptional psychologist.