When students go out into the world, there are infinite possibilities when choosing a career. But whether they want to be an architect, an athlete or anything in between, there’s one fundamental aspect to any career: the role of the human mind. This is fairly obvious, but we can appreciate the power and beauty of the brain by using metacognition.
Metacognition, the analysis of our thoughts, is the foundation of psychology. Unlike core classes such as math and science, the study of the human mind and behaviors applies to every student’s life. By studying psychology, we can gain many new perspectives on ourselves, others and how we interact with people around us. The more we learn about our minds, the more empathetic and understanding we can be.
Enrolling in AP Psychology heavily influences students’ lives. Junior Francesca Lisbino, who took the class as a sophomore, found it extremely enlightening and said it made her even more interested in pursuing a career in psychology.
“I think it’s really improved my emotional intelligence and [has helped me in] conversations and understanding how other people feel,” Lisbino said.
AP Psychology is the most well-known psychology class available at Walter Johnson. It’s easy to be deterred by the fact that it’s an AP class, but most students who have taken it say it is very manageable. Sophomore Psych student Ben Sullivan got the grades he wanted despite not having much AP experience.
“It’s easy if you study and do the readings and stuff like that,” Sullivan said.
On the AP Psychology exam, Lisbino got a 5 and Sullivan felt like he did well. WJ students have a history of scoring high because all aspects of the class are in the students’ favor. It’s already a popular class, but many more students could benefit from it.
The benefits of metacognitive thinking reach beyond high school and social interactions. Mental health is an increasingly relevant discussion and psychology can lay the foundation for awareness of one’s mental health and that of others.
Almost our entire society is a product of the human mind. In learning how it works, we can approach life with a broader view and answer questions we didn’t know we had. Anyone can benefit from psychology, so give it a shot!
“[It changed] how I look at life,” Sullivan said.