“Nearly all of my classes involve group discussions, usually about a research paper, where we extrapolate and practically apply the knowledge.”
Ainsley’s focus when deciding to become a Psychology major was the major’s implications in helping people. Although they have always been interested in the mind’s functions, as they grew older they became passionate about helping friends and family through tough times, and decided that this was something that they wanted to do as a career.
Ainsley has especially appreciated the discussion aspects within the Psychology Department in a field in which new findings are constantly being found and incorporated into conversations. Although the department requires a focus on research and data, she appreciates that it all has practical implications in the real world that can be discussed.
Ainsley describes feeling very comfortable with the faculty within the Psychology department, and isn’t afraid to ask for help or have conversations with professors. Through the department, Ainsley has also had opportunities to engage in experiential learning, both inside and outside of the classroom. In their Special Topics course, they were able to recreate experiments and personally experience them, which made the course material more engaging and understandable. Ainsley has also had the opportunity to assist with animal behavior research with Professor De Lorme. This has been a very valuable experience for Ainsley and she says, “Knowing how to recognize and code animal behavior quickly and effectively is a vital skill, and I look forward to analyzing the data to see what we find.”
After their time within the Psychology Department, Ainsley feels much more prepared for a future career, saying, “The faculty have pushed me to dig deeper into topics I enjoy and build my confidence.”
Outside of the classroom, Ainsley is also involved on campus with Building Bridges, Diversity Leadership Council, and Pound Pals.