“What are you studying?” This question is asked with a rhythm and beat I have learned too well– a phrase I will never forget. Next comes my “it’s a lot” warning and the essay-like response: Cognitive Sciences with a psychology concentration and Social Policy Analysis on a Pre-Law track with a Business minor. The words are spoken as if they have been rehearsed, however not because I lack passion and interest, but because of the countless amount of times I have repeated them.
The responses to my question vary. A “wow” of surprise, a slight tilt of the head, or a polite nod. Sometimes I am curious about what they think or what they expect. Stereotype in all, when I answer this question, some probably expect that I am a STEM major or Pre-Med. Such thoughts may be an unspoken assumption, a silent contrast between expectation and reality. I wondered why each racial category faces such different standards and what are the foundations for current stereotypes.
All throughout high school, I was STEM focused, largely because all my friends and peers around me wanted to pursue a STEM major in the future. Surrounded by not only friends but also my parents who had passions rooted in math and science, I was further ingrained into the facade that I liked STEM. All the aspiring doctors, surgeons, engineers, and computer scientists made my innocent high school self think that following the same path was the natural and best choice. I had participated in science fairs and even earned a position in my high school’s WiSTEM (Women in STEM) club. I took classes that were all STEM related; and I was good at it so I thought that this was the path I should pursue. While I did find some aspects interesting, it always felt like I was trying to mold myself into something that did not quite fit me.
Even when I came to Rice, I had told myself and many people that I was on the Pre-Med track. In the first semester I took biology and medicine classes, but as I sat in on lectures in the social sciences area, I had realized my true interest lay elsewhere. I lacked the same enthusiasm and passion my peers had when discussing their dream jobs as doctors, dream research projects, and dream medical internships that would get them into med school. I was more captivated by discussions of human behavior and thoughts and human relations. Concepts like systems of oppression and intersectionality drew my attention. I was more intrigued in doing research on the layers of institutionalized social inequality throughout the world and how they perpetuate injustice across socioeconomic, gender, and ethnic spectrums.
Having this epiphany came with the struggle of not knowing what major I wanted to do. After letting go of Pre-Med, I felt like I started on a blank slate. I almost felt lost trying to discover what I truly wanted to study. I considered different disciplines exploring subjects like economics and psychology. However, with all the research I had done, I realized that my interests did not have to fit neatly into a single category. I can have multiple interests and study multiple academic areas at once. Therefore, instead of forcing myself into a single path, I created my own combination that would put my passion for understanding human behavior and policy all together.
In high school, I took a couple psychology classes and took 1 in Fall Semester at Rice. I was always fascinated by these concepts and the psychological research behind them. I never liked reading research papers- all the confusing vocabulary and charts after charts yet when I laid eyes on a Psychology research paper, all the reading seemed more tolerable and rather absorbing. I knew I wanted to continue studying human behavior in some way shape or form but I desired more academic exploration. This is what ultimately led to my double majoring in Cognitive Science and Social Policy Analysis with a Business (or Entrepreneurship) Minor.
Although I am no longer on the Pre-Med track, I found a track that piqued my interest. Pre-Law seemed like the perfect choice for me. I did not have to take specific classes nor did I have to focus on any specific major. Cognitive Sciences allows me to dig deeper into the psychological aspect of things while Social Policy Analysis gave me the opportunity to understand more about Pre-Law. I wanted to apply my study and knowledge of human behavior to a more sophisticated level.
Adding a Business/entrepreneurship minor is a way for me to further expand my worldly perspective and foster my leadership skills. I had always been interested in management and organizational behavior so connecting these ideas and skills with a discipline gives me the chance to consider a minor.
This combination is not traditional or easy, but that is exactly what pulls me in and why I love it. It gives me the flexibility to explore my interests from multiple directions and expose myself to different perspectives that prepares me for a multifaceted future. Today, when I am asked the infamous question, “What are you studying?”, I still give my well-rehearsed answer, however, I do so with much more knowledge and maturity. I no longer overthink and need to justify why what I’m doing makes sense. My major, much like me, is always in progress.