Psychology

Ethany Rogan '27

Why did you decide to study psychology? 

Ever since I was little, I have always been interested in science, but once I took a psychology class in high school, I immediately knew that I loved it. Additionally, I knew I wanted to go into a field where I can help others and learn more, because psychology is abstract and it changes all the time. 

What class has been your favorite so far? 

My favorite class I have taken is Developmental Psychology. Developmental psychology focuses on how humans grow and adapt throughout their lifespan based on physical, cognitive and social development. I believe this course is important to take early on because it helps you understand why we behave and think the way we do and how our genetics or experiences shape how we perceive the world, others and ourselves. This class can also help you figure out what direction you want to take in the psychology field, because you learn about the different lifespan experiences of individuals, families and groups.

Tell us about a unique experience you've had or project you've worked on for your major.

Currently, for my Psychopathology class, we have quite a few projects that are fun. For instance, we just made a "pathological playlist" and chose three songs to post to a blog. Then we'll choose three songs to diagnose using the DSM-5 TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision).

What advice would you give to someone thinking about majoring in psychology? 

You don't have to know what field of psychology you want to go into right away! There are so many options you can choose from because psychology has multiple different career routes. For example: clinical, counseling, research, biological, etc. This is the time when you can see which ones stick with you and you want to pursue for your career. Whitworth is a great place to take various classes and connect with peers and professors to support you throughout your major and career path.

What's your dream job?

I want to go into counseling and get my master's. I'm not worried about getting my Psy.D. yet. I want to be a school counselor or just be in the counseling world because I like learning about different types of therapy strategies and supporting others through guidance, coping strategies and processing emotions. 

Who are three people who have made a difference for you at Whitworth?

1. Adjunct Professor Rachel Aldridge – I took her Intro to Psychology and Developmental Psychology courses, and I enjoyed them. Her classes were fun to take and helped me figure out that I want to be a school counselor. I was very fortunate to be her TA in the fall and gain more experience with psychology. I would recommend her classes to anyone – she is amazing!
2. Professor Katie Creyts – I am an art minor, and she is my advisor for art & design. She helped me figure out my career path by incorporating art. I have thought about art therapy as a career option as well, because art is something that I will never give up or abandon. I want to use it in my career somehow in psychology. Katie is such a kind soul, and she has helped me a lot with career plans, experiences and creativity. I couldn't have done it without her.
3. Associate Professor Justin Martin – I was terrified to take statistics and research, but I'm glad I took a class with him because he made it less intimidating. I enjoyed math for once in my life, which was great. He is also my advisor, and he has been super helpful with my career path and encouraged me to work on an independent study project my senior year, which I am excited about. He is a great professor, and I'm thankful that he has helped me with my major.

What's something that surprised you about your major?

Statistics is not that bad. I am not a math person at all, and I enjoyed it. I was concerned that I wasn't going to get a good grade or that I'd fall behind, but the class included lots of practice and the assignments were understandable. Now, I'm taking Research in Psychology, and I like it because I am not fearful of statistics anymore, and we can make our own research studies and collect data, which I'm excited to do.

Why did you choose to attend Whitworth?

I am a legacy; my mom graduated from Whitworth. Also, my older sisters went to Whitworth, so it made sense for me to choose Whitworth since I already had a glimpse of what Whitworth was like.

How would you describe Whitworth?

Whitworth is a great place to learn and succeed because it is smaller, which is a good thing because it's easier to build community, connect with peers and gain support from professors. Also, the different class options are great, and if you are interested in expanding knowledge and having more control over choosing what courses to take and what interests you, a liberal arts school is the way to go.

Xander Frens '27

Why did you decide to study psychology? 

I wasn't enjoying the major I originally chose as much as I thought I would. At the same time, I was taking Intro to Psychology and absolutely fell in love with all the practical and introspective information we learned. I also find a lot of meaning in how I will be able to use this degree to directly help both myself and others with the struggles of life. And as a nice bonus, all the professors are very passionate, which made it hard to turn down their pleas for me to switch majors!

What class has been your favorite so far? 

I have truly enjoyed all my psych classes a great deal, but my absolute favorite was Theories of Counseling with Joelle Czirr. Was it a bit brutal? Definitely. Was it worth it? Even more so. Therapy/counseling is my primary interest, so this class was perfect for me. I particularly liked the readings and tests. The readings were often stories that showed how different therapeutic modalities approached a person's story. Some of those stories were truly horrific, but it was a good test to see if I could handle what this field will throw at me. We had three tests where we had to assess the strategies being used in mock counseling sessions. Heavy subjects were brought up, and finding all the little details in how a conversation was steered was a difficult but fascinating exercise.

Tell us about a unique experience you've had or project you've worked on for your major.

In that same Theories of Counseling class, we had to work on a semester-long self-improvement project. The idea was that you can't teach someone a life skill you haven't learned yourself. I chose to journal every day about my social experiences and mood to better understand the connection and improve my social skills. All that self-reflection gave me countless insights into myself, and I still write in it to this day, a year later.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about majoring in psychology? 

1. The psychology department here is strong. While I'm interested in the counseling side of things, there are also lots of classes more related to research and clinical psychology, so regardless of what aspect of psychology you're interested in, you'll have classes that pique your interest.
2. The psychology major is a somewhat small major, being only 46 credits. Because of this, it is very easy to pull off a double major if you plan accordingly. I took some time to figure out what I wanted to study, so I unfortunately couldn't pull it off. But seriously, you can double major without having to put yourself through a ton of pain. I have enough free time to do theatre, be in a jazz combo and a choir, and be the president of a club.

What's your dream job?

My dream job would be as a counselor with my own private practice. My main interest is in helping young adults navigate the transition out of childhood, and I would love to be able to do that in a space where I have full control over that process.

What's something that might surprise students about your major?

This may seem obvious, but so much of what you learn in psych classes can be applied to everyday life. I frequently find myself in lectures thinking about how what I'm learning relates to my past and present, leading to both a deeper understanding of myself and of why I act the way I do. I think psychology is one of the few, or perhaps only, majors that forces such introspection on its students. I personally really enjoy it.

Who are three people who have made a difference for you at Whitworth?

Joelle Czirr is one of the two professors who got me into the psychology department, my academic advisor, and the person who taught the legendary Theories of Counseling class I talked about. With her guidance, I have found my new life mission. More than that, she has pushed me again and again to achieve a deeper understanding of myself, those around me and how I can make the world a better place. I could not ask for a better advisor.

Lyra Cupala has always been on my side since the moment I came to Whitworth. She gave me support during the difficult transition to college after being homeschooled my entire life, and realized far before I did that I should switch majors my freshman year. Without her care and empathy, I might not even be at Whitworth still. And even though she graduated almost a year ago, we still keep in touch.

Fiona Beattie is 99 percent of the reason I'm in so many extracurriculars right now. We met through Whitworth's comedy improv club, Cool Whip, where she mentored me to take over the club my sophomore year. She also begged me for over a year straight to join the theatre department. Eventually, I gave in and tried it. I've never looked back. Without Fiona, I would have half the passion and a quarter of the adventures I have today. She is truly an inspiration, and I only hope I can live up to all the joy she brought to campus while she was here.

Why did you choose to attend Whitworth?

Primarily, I chose this university for its small average class size and quality residence halls. Being just another face in the crowd terrified me, which made going to a big school not something I was interested in. At Whitworth, most of the classes have under 30 students, so you really get the opportunity to know your professors on a personal level, as well as your classmates. As for the residence halls, not only are they generally spacious, but each of them has a lively community inside. Sometimes it takes a little bit to find it, but I haven't had a semester where I couldn't find community in at least one of the halls.

How would you describe Whitworth?

Warm, personal and interconnected. My professors have been excellent teachers who make me excited to learn, even if it's something completely outside my interests. The general size of campus can be a little intimidating, as once you know someone, you're bound to see them constantly, it seems. But that's also the fun part! Everyone seems to know everyone else, and making friends couldn't be easier.