3MT Winner Spotlight | Layla Basile

"I chose the counseling program, specifically the clinical mental health route, because I want to make a difference in my community. Most importantly, I want to foster the sense of compassion and support that I have been a part of."

Layla Basile, M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Program

Counseling, Clinical Mental Health (M.S.)
Counseling, School Counseling (M.S.)

Department

Psychology & Counseling

Graduate School
Graduate Student

Academics
Experiential Learning
Social Sciences & Humanities
Awards

05/02/2022

Hood’s 6th annual Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition is an internationally recognized event in which graduate students use one slide and three minutes to present their chosen research topic.

Layla Basile, a current graduate student in Hood College's clinical mental health counseling program, won the People's Choice Award for her talk, "The Relationship Between Depression and Alcohol/Drug Use in Adolescents." Before attending the Graduate School, Layla earned a B.A. in psychology with a minor in writing from Hood in 2020.

We spoke with Layla to get some insight on why she chose to compete in Hood’s 3MT and how she feels about the opportunity to take her presentation to the next level.

Why did you choose Hood College and the program you are in?

Attending Hood for my undergrad experience, I felt honored to be a part of this close-knit, inclusive community that the College provided. So, attending grad school here was an easy decision. Not only due to the supportive and friendly community, but also the excellent professors, who I knew would provide a top-notch education and truly want to see all their students succeed.

Also, I chose the counseling program, specifically the clinical mental health route, because I want to make a difference in my community. Most importantly, I want to foster the sense of compassion and support that I have been a part of. Psychology was a subject I have been interested in since high school, and I was naturally inclined to follow that path through the avenue of counseling.

Why did you pick to speak about your specific topic?

I am primarily interested in counseling those who struggle with substance use, so delving deeper into research that gives me the background information to better understand the risk factors and effective treatment options seemed like a great place to start. I keyed into the adolescent population specifically because adolescents are in a particularly developmental period, which entails certain concerns and factors to consider that are different from other phases of life.

What did you enjoy the most about the 3MT event and how did you prep for it?

I thought the 3MT was an exciting experience and such an amazing opportunity. I enjoyed sharing my research with the Hood College community, as well as hearing the research conducted by such intelligent people from a variety of disciplines. It felt like all your core classes jam-packed into an hour lecture! The energy was palpable, and everyone had such enthusiasm for what they were sharing, which I thought was a special part of the 3MT event.

I prepped for the 3MT by practicing my presentation using the stopwatch on my phone to ensure it met the 3-minute time limit. I also spent ample time creating my slide and trying to make useful connections between the image presented and my research, so I could better engage the audience in the ideas I was talking about and make it memorable.

Any other information/fun facts that you would like to add?

For fun facts, I have an identical twin sister who attended Hood with me during undergrad. We choreographed tap dance routines together for Hood’s Dance Ensemble concerts.

Inspired by Layla’s story and ready to #GOFURTHER in your career? Learn more about Hood College’s graduate programs, including the Master’s in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health by clicking here.