A College of Western Idaho (CWI) alum is receiving national recognition for acing a phone interview. While people often associate phone interviews with employment, Casey Bosse actually created an award-winning video using his cell phone. He entered the video into the American Psychological Association’s (APA) nation-wide Student Video Award contest, and won the top honor for community college student submissions.
Bosse, who recently graduated with an associate degree in Psychology, entered the contest on a whim. His task was to interview a psychology-degreed professional working in the field. He chose former CWI student Michelle Prince; a developmental specialist in Boise.
“I love making videos,” Bosse said. “I can visually see things in my head. If I can see it, I can create it.”
Casey’s natural ability to see things hasn’t always worked in his favor. He graduated from Mountain View High School in Meridian—more than a decade ago—with below-average grades. After bouncing between a variety of jobs and a stint with Job Corps, he ultimately ended up at CWI in January 2014.
“As soon as I got here, everything just clicked,” he said. “I knew going in I wanted to study psychology and that was it.”
A year into his studies, Casey was diagnosed with high-functioning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. The diagnosis explained his highly-acute ability to visualize things. The discovery hasn’t stopped him from working toward his goal of becoming a psychiatrist. If anything, he is more determined than ever. This spring he graduated from CWI with a 3.95 grade point average, served as the College’s Psi Beta Honor Society chapter president, and recently started taking courses through Lewis–Clark State College.
“People are people regardless of a diagnosis,” he said. “I’ll be working in a field that’s made a lot of progress in helping kids with special needs—like myself.”
Casey’s experience at CWI enlightened him in many ways, and created a turning point in his life.
“CWI offers intimate relationships with instructors and student peers,” he said. “Everything has worked out perfectly, which is exactly what I needed. It’s amazing when (everything) clicks—when I can look back at accomplishments and say ‘I did it.’”
Casey will receive $500 for his award-winning video. He has also been invited to attend the APA’s Annual Convention in Denver in August.