A day in the life of a PSYC major
Have you thought about which major would be the perfect fit for you? Did psychology ever cross your mind? Well, get ready for an inside look at a typical day in my life as a junior majoring in psychology at the University of Rochester!
Morning Routine:
I usually start my day around 8:30 am, although it involves hitting the snooze button at least five times (in my defense, I strategically set up five consecutive alarms, so it’s all part of my plan). After somehow crawling out of bed, I waste no time in getting ready because I am always racing against the clock to catch the bus at 8:45 am. On good days, I get to eat breakfast but my priority is getting to campus on time for work at 9:00 am.
Work:
I work as an office assistant for residential life in Susan B. Anthony Hall. For those of you who don’t know, Susan B. Anthony Hall is a first-year dorm building and it was my home for one year back when I first arrived on campus. I love working here because of the wonderful people in the office and the welcoming environment! A big chunk of my morning is dedicated to work, and right after, I make my way to my first class of the day – Arabic 102.
Classes:
Even though I am a psychology major, I chose Arabic as my cluster because most of my closest friends in university are Arabs. I find the language incredibly beautiful yet difficult and I hope that one day I am able to read Arabic poetry without relying on English translations. After class, I immediately go to the dining hall to refuel before my favorite psychology class of the entire week – behavioral medicine.
The thing about psychology classes is that you actually learn things that you can apply to your life. I am incredibly grateful for having the opportunity to study psychology as it’s always something that I have been interested in. Back in Bangladesh, there are no psychology courses offered in high school so this field is relatively new to me! I aspire to be a clinical psychologist one day because it’s something I am truly passionate about.
Research Lab:
Right after class, I make my way to the Starr Lab, where I work as a Research Assistant (also known as IDEA Lab – Internalizing Disorder and Emotional Adjustment), which is a clinical psychology lab focused on shedding light on the intricate interplay of various systems contributing to the risk of internalizing disorders (depression & anxiety). Additionally, we investigate how these disorders influence psychological well-being and the surrounding social environment. After spending a few hours doing work at the lab, I head to the library to catch up on academics.
Library Study Sessions:
Studying tip: always rewrite your notes to solidify your memory for upcoming exams. I usually spend hours in the library trying to finish up my work, but a good chunk of that time is spent talking with friends, doom-scrolling on my phone, and procrastinating on getting started on assignments.
Going back home:
After coming back home, I spend my time either studying in my room or hanging out with my lovely suitemates. We usually spend time together being lazy on the couch watching TV – our current obsession is “Love Is Blind” season 6! My day usually comes to an end around 2 am when I have nothing better to do but sleep.