Major decision: major idea

I think I want to go into some kind of religion major. I've been interested in religion since I was very young. Having attended Catholic schools from kindergarten to high school graduation and now attending an LDS religious university, I've always taken religion courses. I've gone to thousands of Sunday School classes and graduated seminary, which involves studying the scriptures every morning before school.

Unlike many of my classmates during my middle and high school years, I actually enjoyed a good portion of my religion classes. Despite the fact that I was studying theology very different from my personal beliefs, I found myself engrossed in the subject matter. I even remember each of my teachers' names (Ms. Syes, Mrs. Macklin, Ms. Turner, Sister Mary Frances, Mr. Sadler, Sister Jane, Ms. Lai)! In fifth grade I was given an award for the highest GPA in my Catholic religion course. I would often recall this, laugh and jokingly say I was more Catholic than my Catholic friends. But the truth is simply that I enjoyed learning about their religion. I participated in discussions and would compare aspects of the LDS theology with that of Catholicism. Attending my LDS seminary classes in the morning before school and then going to school and attending my theology classes there was an intellectually enlarging experience.

I came to Brigham Young University last fall completely sure of my Psychology major. I had heard of students changing their majors several times during school but I seriously doubted this group of students would include me. I had chosen my Psychology major back in my freshman year of high school.

I had considered three other majors: English, Graphic Design and Neuroscience. But never Religion. My high school English teacher described my writing as mediocre and destroyed my dreams to become a writer and though I still enjoyed reading immensely, I decided if I couldn't be a writer then I wouldn't bother with English whatsoever. Graphic Design was a short-lived idea. I was especially interested in web design and book and cd covers. Then I decided my skills weren't good enough and, well, frankly, I'm too lazy to attempt to develop them much further. (Yes, this is very sad and quite pathetic. I understand this. Oh well.) I realized that Neuroscience could be an incredibly interesting major. I figured if I went into Neuroscience I would become a scientist/researcher trying to find new cures/medications to "fix" the human brain. And while I do trust medications to some extent, I truly believe that psychiatrists and regular family doctors throw antidepressants, and other kinds of psychoactive drugs and psychotropic substances at people when really all they need are constructive ways to cope with stress and trauma. I believe that drugs should be used in addition to constructive psychotherapy, if necessary. And, what would appear contrary to my own practices, I believe drugs should be distributed and used within sensible limits. I think that many Americans (perhaps it's more of an international problem than I am aware of) are over-medicated. What they need is just some effective coping skills. Which is why I originally decided on psychology. I wanted to study psychology in order to later become a cognitive therapist to help people develop these skills. I understand that drugs are effective and, in many cases, necessary. But I wanted to make sure that I was doing what I could do for those who didn't need those drugs but still found the daily trials of life to be more difficult than they should be.

I still find Psychology to be incredibly interesting. I still love reading and enjoy writing. I occasionally doodle and design covers for CDs. But I can't really see me pursuing these subjects as more than hobbies or interests. Religion on the other hand...

When I withdrew from all my classes last semester, it was an action instigated by my poor emotional state. I realized I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and thought perhaps I wouldn't do anything at all and simply end it. I was brushing shoulders with another emotional breakdown that would've been much worse than the one last November. I had to drop my classes. Once I did that, I had pretty much given up on Psychology. I decided to stay for Spring term so that I might be able to take some other classes and perhaps find something else I was interested in. I ended up signing up for three different religion classes and one gymnastics class. I am incredibly enthusiastic about all of them.

Out of all the classes I've taken since I've been in college, my religion courses are the ones that I've enjoyed the most (they are also the ones I feel I've benefited most from). Is it any wonder that I would want to major in this area?

(Also, the idea of studying at BYU's Jerusalem Center gives me chills.)