Study of the Mind by Jena

Study of the Mind by Jena - December 2023 Scholarship Essay

Since the dawn of human history, the thirst for knowledge has led us to want to understand one thing: each other. With how we’ve managed to become the only living organisms on planet Earth capable of metacognition, it only makes sense that we feel an obligation to explore the depths of our own minds to discover how we think, why we think, and what we can do with what we find.
That is the fundamental purpose of my chosen major, psychology: to explain the human condition, put it to better use, and improve the well-being of humanity. Knowing how people process information and come to decisions benefits society by giving us the ability to structure schools and workplaces to maximize learning and productivity. This increase in knowledge and motivation will lead to greater innovation and technological advancements that can be used and distributed to the needy so life is improved for all.
Knowing how the brain works and the various dysfunctions that may occur can also help in assisting those experiencing psychological disorders– especially those that disrupt daily life, such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and dissociative disorder. While the DSM-V has hundreds of mental illnesses listed, the examples given are when normal human behavior has progressed to the extremes and began to negatively impact one’s life– something nearly everyone has or will experience at least once in their lifetime. Having someone knowledgeable in these disorders and able to assist those in distress keeps the world running smoothly.
Psychology is an essential major in modern society, especially when we’re in times of direst. The study of the human mind and behavior is something vital to the very being of society– the knowledge of one another is what keeps interconnections functioning and healthy. Without this critical major being offered, society itself would revert to when we knew nothing about the human mind– a much darker time.