Coming into Cornell, I was certain in my choice of major: Chemistry. I was very excited for my general chemistry classes last fall, but I could not say the same about my first-year writing seminar. While writing once excited me as a kid, over the years, my passion dwindled as I mindlessly generated the same five-paragraph essay for years.
As course selection approached, I browsed the class roster searching for a first-year writing seminar that sounded interesting. With my list in hand on the day of pre-enrollment, I watched as every slot filled. In a panic, I scoured for anything else, landing on HD 1125, Special Topics in Human Development: Writing About the Experiences of Female Pain.
Our first reading was on endometriosis, a disease that affects 1 in 10 women. Despite its prevalence, I had never heard of the disease before this class, which shocked me. Reading more and more about the limitations of healthcare for women and the experiences of women that are often overlooked helped me simultaneously realize how much I didn’t know and how much I wanted to learn.
When asked to write a literature review for one of the assignments, which did not fit into my five-paragraph essay template, I had no idea where to start. So, I set up a meeting with my professor, where she was not only able to help me adapt my writing to new styles, but also took time getting to know me and my interests.
I asked her about her experiences at Cornell and was enthralled learning about her work as a graduate student and the adolescent psychology lab she works in. Until then, I had never thought about doing research, but this was too interesting to ignore.
Throughout the rest of the course, I contemplated this new interest I had discovered. I had found AP psychology interesting in high school, but was it something I wanted to spend four years studying?
The answer became clear when writing one of my last papers for the course on the history of hysteria. While the 8-page requirement initially seemed daunting, I was so captivated by the research that the pages just flew by. The work I was doing was not only interesting; it was important. Learning about the development of women’s mental and physical health treatment made me realize how I could use psychology to help people.
I talked more with my professor, who encouraged me to become an active member of the Pelvic Pain Association at Cornell. I decided to include the psychology major as a part of my education, enrolling in both a psychology and a human development class this semester, which have become two of my favorite courses. Had it not been for the seemingly random topic of my FWS and the ability to work one-on-one with my professor, I would not have found some of my favorite academic opportunities at Cornell.
