Are some of you looking for an elective to take next year– something that will fill your schedule, but will also be fun and entertaining? If so, look no further than Jim Carroll’s psychology class!

Psychology is a class that almost anyone can benefit from. It is a class that requires you to put in work, but it is beneficial as you move throughout the year. Some students are already prepared to take psychology next year, like sophomore Atticus Hynes. “I’m excited for psychology because I want to go into the psychology field for my work,” said Hynes.

Psychology dives into much more than you would first think. This class covers things such as the brain structure and how it works, along with emotion, intelligence, death, child development, sensation and much much more. The subjects covered in psychology are always engaging, and there is always something different for everyone. “We learn about challenging topics and how dark the human mind can get, but also more lighthearted topics,” said senior Grace Brabo. 

This class not only has amazing students but a wonderful teacher as well: Jim Carroll. He provides discussions that students can contribute to and makes the class feel inclusive. Senior Madeline Mead said, “Mr. Carroll makes it simple to understand.” It is easy to retain information in this class with the examples and real-life connections that Carroll makes. 

While students write down terms, there is almost always a story to go with it, which ensures that students are more involved with the lesson. Whether the story is embarrassing, funny or relatable, students often find joy in listening to Carroll’s stories. “He always has really interesting stories, and because he’s lived such a full and well-rounded life, he’s able to relate them back to class quite well. The class is always super fun because of the stories he adds into the lesson plan; it makes it feel less textbook and more natural,” said Mead.

Carroll’s class, like any other, contains work, but along with the work comes fun experiments and videos to help you further understand and retain the curriculum. Experiments in psychology can range from trying to classically condition someone to bringing in weird foods for your classmates to try, to throwing paper airplanes through the halls and even sneaking some into history teacher Art Horner’s classroom. Carroll makes sure to include hands-on activities in his class, which help students better understand topics, but also keep students engaged and curious. 

So, panthers, what do you say? Does psychology sound like it’s up your alley or something you might find interest in? Consider fitting this elective class into your schedule next year; it might just be what you are looking for!