What Makes Me Smile at PLU?

 "You are you. Now, isn't that pleasant?"  --- Dr. Seuss

Dear friends,

Photo Credit: Shunying Wang

The first 7 weeks of the semester have passed rapidly, in a speed like a time traveler's machine. Sometimes I like to lay reminiscing about the new student orientation days like they happened not too long ago. But the reality never agrees-- it always reminds me about how many days I have already lived through and how old I have gotten. I am only 20, but it felt like forever.

Photo Credit: Shunying Wang

I love that time is often forgotten at PLU. It is ironic I know because time is also mentioned every single day -- deadlines for homework assignments, fixed time periods for courses and on-campus jobs, and scheduled times for group meetings -- we deal with time all the time. But time is often forgotten because it slips through my fingers when I get so involved with school work and activities. I never need to worry about getting bored. I am never bored.

Photo Credit: Shunying Wang

It also makes me smile when I get around people. I am a people person. Human interaction is my soul food. My days progress faster when friends are with me. When walking around campus, my favorite thing is to spot those whom I know of. Not to be creepy, but to have a little chat with you or to simply wish you a good day is all I want. My name is Shishi, or Shunying if you can remember. Please say hi to me if I didn't see you. I would love to hear about how you have been.

Photo Credit: Shunying Wang

Photo Credit: Shunying Wang

And then it is the colors of autumn. I cannot stress enough about my love and passion for season autumn.  I mention autumn leaves at least once a week. I am being repetitive and redundant I know. I don't mean to annoy anyone, but PLU has a enchantingly colorful campus in fall that is too beautiful to forget.

Photo Credit: Shunying Wang

One more week to push through, until we can officially end the first half of this semester. Good luck and good day.

Love always,

Shishi

4 Great Things About Being A Psychology Major

Happy October! The first month of school went by really quickly! I realized that I never really talked about the things I get to do as a Psychology Major, so let me tell you 4 things that I really like about studying psychology at PLU.

1. Interesting classes- Although Psychology 101 (Intro to Psychology) teaches you the general concepts in psychology, the specialized psychology courses at PLU take you through concepts from  different perspectives. For example, I took Cultural Psychology last year, which taught me the cultural differences in the ways people think and behave. Currently, I'm taking Psychology of Women, which is mainly discussion based and goes over the psychological differences with women.

2. Contributing to real-life research- In my stats class, we are working on a survey project where we collect surveys from participants and write a research paper. What's cool about this project you ask? We have three projects that we can choose from, and two of these projects contribute to real-life research. So we not only get to do this for class, but we are also contributing to real-life research by being
part of great opportunities like this!

Xavier in the snow!

3. Great professors- So far out of the psychology classes I've taken at PLU, I've never had a professor that wasn't helpful or knowledgable. I have visited them during their office hours with questions about class or about my future, and they are always willing to help.

4. The psychology building- A lot of the psychology classes happen at Xavier. What I love about the building is the big classroom. It looks like something that would be in in Harry Potter!