Jasmine Harrison ’27
Introduction to Psychological Science was one of the first classes I took at Pomona College, and I was immediately hooked. Psychology felt different from my other courses because it was so clearly relevant to everyday life. The idea of me, a human with cognitions and emotions, studying those very same cognitions and emotions felt both ironic and completely natural. There was something exciting about turning the analytical lens inward.
One of the most rewarding parts of studying psychology is how quickly the material comes alive outside the classroom. You don’t just learn concepts; you start to see them everywhere. After learning about self-serving bias, for example, I began catching myself making dispositional attributions when I succeeded (“I worked hard; I’m capable”) and situational attributions when I failed (“I was tired; the circumstances weren’t ideal”). Suddenly, these weren’t just terms in a textbook, but patterns shaping my own behavior.
One of my favorite psychology courses at Pomona has been Psych of the Black Experience with Professor Eric Hurley. That course deepened my interest in cultural psychology and challenged me to think more critically about how culture shapes cognition, identity and opportunity. It ultimately led me to join Professor Hurley’s lab, where we study Deep Structure Culture and culturally-informed educational models. Being able to connect theory to research, and research to real-world educational change, has been especially meaningful to me.
What I appreciate most about psychology is its universality. In any field that involves working with people—which is nearly every field—an understanding of human behavior is invaluable. Psychology sharpens your awareness of motivation, bias, communication and decision-making. Even in independent work, insight into your own cognitive processes can help you work more effectively. And as fields like computer science and artificial intelligence increasingly attempt to model human cognition, psychological science continues to shape how we build and understand the systems around us.
I’m excited to see where psychology takes me professionally, whether that involves research, clinical work, communications, human relations, education or something I haven’t even imagined yet.
Vidusshi Hingad ’25
My decision to major in psychology at Pomona College was more than an academic choice; it was a path to self-discovery that began with a high school International Baccalaureate (IB) course. Arriving at Pomona with an open mind, I sampled various subjects, but it was psychology that truly resonated with me. Its appeal lay in the blend of two passions: a genuine interest in understanding human behavior and a love for the precision of research methods.
Psychology, in its vastness, ranging from forensic psychology to child development, has been a catalyst for my personal growth. It constantly pushes me to question and reassess my assumptions (or heuristics), shaping a more nuanced understanding of the world. The faculty in the department have been instrumental in this journey. Their support and guidance extend beyond academics, fostering a community where I felt valued and encouraged.
This journey through psychology led me to embrace the concept of 'ikigai'–finding joy and fulfillment in what I do. Psychology is more than just my major; it’s the prism through which I view life. It has intertwined my academic pursuits with a deeper, more personal exploration of my place in the world.
On seldom occasions does one enter a classroom and has their life changed. Psychology did that for me. It's not just a discipline I've studied; it's a lens that has refined how I interact with knowledge. As I step into a world increasingly in need of human understanding, empathy, and the ability to interpret and predict human outcomes, my education in psychology at Pomona College has uniquely equipped me. It has instilled in me a blend of data analysis and critical thinking skills, honed my ability to empathize and understand diverse perspectives, and provided me with the tools to anticipate and analyze human behavior. This comprehensive skill set prepares me to engage with the world in a way that is insightful, informed, and deeply attuned to the complexities of human nature.
Sara Garza Gonzalez ’25
I thought I was set as an international relations major my first semester at Pomona, having loved the idea of intersectional politics as the vessel for social change my whole life. I quickly realized that what I loved about politics was understanding the why behind people’s behavior, what drives people to their decisions, and hence, understanding the general idea of people having personalities. I had also always loved listening and talking to as many people as I could, and ever since discovering my passion for psychological science, it has only grown.
After getting to know the professors and the major through Pomona’s website during the winter break of my first year, I sent an email to Professor [Sara] Masland wondering if we could schedule a Zoom meeting to talk more about what majoring in psychological science means at Pomona. In the next couple of days, we met for a Zoom meeting, she hired me for her research lab, and I knew I had met the people I wanted to surround myself with for the next three and a half years I had left at this school. The people at Pomona’s Psychological Science Department and their openness and curiosity for others are why I chose this major.
As an international student, I found it difficult at times to find a sense of community and belonging during my first semester, but the warmth of the Psychological Science Department and Sandy’s smiles and snacks (our incredible Academic Coordinator) helped me build a new home away from my first home. After many insightful lab meetings, late nights studying at Lincoln Hall, various community work efforts, and life-changing friendships, I am very grateful to be part of this department and this discipline.
I now know and value how psychological science is another vessel with which we can bring about social change.