As I gaze out my window at the billowy palms, I situate myself at my desk and prop open my laptop to start the Zoom Psychology lecture. With a warm cup of herbal tea in hand, I sip and then stretch to awaken for an intellectual discussion. Nearing the end of my experience in the Introduction to Psychology course, I can proudly say it has enriched my foundation of how the human mind perceives and processes information. The most prominent overall feeling I gained from this summer pre-college program has been my eagerness and curiosity to learn even more about psychology. Being surrounded by like-minded students from all around the world felt like the beginning of my mission to acquire knowledge to impact society.
Reviewing lectures and readings for the tests, I wondered how I could best use this class to advance my fervent passion for psychology. The lecture about psychopathology bridged my interest in researching child and developmental psychology and the symptoms of depression. The research that accompanied each lecture topic was inspiring and piqued my further interest in the subject. I recognized the benefits of researching for the sole purpose of expanding your horizons and gaining a clearer perspective. My interest in depression evolved into studying parental cancer's effects on adolescents and how their experiences mold life choices. I intend to reveal my findings by writing a research paper incorporating qualitative data in conjunction with published studies, some of which were introduced to me directly by my professor.
The High School Summer Scholar's Program at Washington University allowed me to grow and learn independently, shaping my future path. This summer, my goal was to become involved in a community of students with the aim to prepare me for my next four-year journey and I have achieved that goal.
This essay is one of the winning submissions from our 2021 Student Reflection Essay contest.
