Author Archives: Emily Swope

Why do I twirl my hair?

Hair twirling is a habit I have struggled with for years. I do it almost constantly, and no matter how many times I have tried to stop this habit it always remains. Habits are kind of a strange thing, when I started to think about it. I mean, why do I twirl my hair, and why can’t I quit it? Is there any reason behind this? I decided to find out.

Personally, habits have always come across as something people do constantly with no underlying purpose. However, it was hard for me to believe that this habit has been happening for me since the seventh grade for no reason. At this point it occurs almost unconsciously, without me even realizing. I decided to run an experiment, as I was told that twirling hair could be a result of stress or anxiety. I definitely have a lot of anxiety, so I thought that maybe this could be the cause for my hair twirling.

To conduct this experiment, I decided to try and pay attention to every time that I was twirling my hair. Doing so would help to me to determine why I was starting to do it at that specific instance, and if there were any similarities in the times that it was occurring. I got my friends to tell me when I was twirling my hair, too. When I started to do this, I noticed interesting results.

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In the observational study I conducted, my hair twirling increased whenever I was thinking about exams, when I was studying, and specifically when I was thinking about or talking to my friends about housing. It also occurred when I was planning my schedule. Hair twirling for me does not happen frequently when I am in a relaxed state, but instead it happens when I am thinking about a situation that gives me anxiety and stress. Even with coming to this conclusion though, I was still confused. The correlation between stress and hair twirling did not make sense to me, so I did some research to find an answer.

It turns out that many people suffer from hair twirling, and it can take place in both adulthood and childhood for some different reasons. An article I read from Kids+ Pediatrics was of particular interest to me, because it seemed to line up with what I am experiencing. The article noted that hair-twirling for toddlers was a “self-soothing activity” (LaMendola). That behavior can continue into adolescence and adulthood, especially for people who have anxiety. Twirling my hair seems to be a way for me to calm myself down, or at least I have begun to associate it with doing that. I twirl my hair as a way to comfort myself, similar to how people bite their nails or participate in other habitual actions. Still not understanding why this association happens, I searched for more scientific research.

Looking at stimming can help to shed light on the situation. Many children who have Autism typically participate in stims. These are repetitive motions done “because it feels good in some way”, according to Autism Aspergers Digest . Hair twirling is also considered a stim, and I believe that I do this for a similar reason that it occurs in children with Autism. Hair twirling helps to “self-soothe a child and help him regain emotional balance”, states Autism Aspergers Digest. Stimming is also done purposefully, according to BBC, as a way to bring distraction to a situation and block out other thoughts. I would be willing to bet hair twirling for me is a distraction so I will stop thinking about what I’m stressing about and focus on something else– my hair.

Take test taking, for example. I get extremely nervous before a test and have increased heart rate and muscle tension. Of course my hair starts twirling at this time, as I want to try and calm myself down. Hair twirling is an action that creates a distraction for me from thinking about the test at hand. I always notice my mind starts to wander when I twirl my hair, so in a way it is taking me from reality in an attempt to cope with a certain situation.

Hopefully one day I will be able to stop doing this, but the issue with stims is that once you have one- and most people do- they work to help one deal with something. In that sense fully ridding the stim is unlikely, and instead I should find a replacement for this stim that would be more acceptable to society and to myself.

Sources:

LaMendola, Katie. “Hair Pulling & Twirling.” Kids Plus Pediatrics. Kids Plus Pediatrics, 2012. Web. 04 Dec. 2014.

“Why Do Kids with Autism Stim?” Autism Aspergers Digest. Autism Aspergers Digest, 2012. Web. 04 Dec. 2014.

“Stimming: What Autistic People Do to Feel Calmer.” BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.

Does having red hair make you healthier?

I am really pale, with red-ish hair, and was interested in how the red hair gene came to be. However, I came across something in this investigation that was much more interesting. It turns out that having red hair actually has some advantages in terms of someone’s health.

Probably the most advantageous thing that I found about being a red head is that it reduces the likelihood of getting osteoporosis or other bone diseases, as well as rickets. According to the Vitamin D Council, the fairer one is the easier it is to absorb vitamin D. Absorbing vitamin D is important because vitamin D helps to prevent osteoporosis and other bone problems. WebMD reports that when someone is younger they can get rickets, which are a result of having soft bones, and this is more likely to happen when someone does not have the necessary amount of vitamin D. WebMD also states that “Vitamin D deficiency has now been linked to breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease, depression, weight gain, and other maladies”. Vitamin D Council reports that it takes about half the time it takes an individual to start to get pink/burn to absorb all their necessary Vitamin D. The reason for the pale advantage in this situation is because melanin in the skin is more prevalent in people who have darker skin. Melanin protects the skin from UVB, which prevents Vitamin D from entering, according to Vitamin D Council. This also means that people who are paler can get more Vitamin D in winter months when the sun is not as prevalent, because they do not have as much melanin blocking the little sunlight available.

Photo from http://gingerparrot.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Freckles-How-to-Check-Your-Skin-and-Moles-Ginger.jpg

However, being pale also comes with the obvious issue of having an increased risk for skin cancer. Because it is easier to burn when one is paler, the chances of getting skin cancer rise. These chances can be lessened if a paler person wears sunscreen. The Vitamin D Council reports that sunscreen while sunscreen protects the skin it also blocks more Vitamin D, so it becomes more of a complex situation. If someone were to put sunscreen on only when it was the time that they usually start to burn, this could combat the issue and allow for Vitamin D absorption as well as skin cancer prevention. The only problem is that it can be difficult to know the strength of the sun that day or any other factors that could influence how much time it takes until someone will start to burn.

I wanted to find out if there were other advantages with having red hair. I found more disadvantages than advantages, though. For example, Everyday Health reported that red heads are almost 90% more likely to get Parkinson’s disease. It is not exactly clear why this happens, but because having red hair also means having special genes for this, scientists believe that it is due to a mutation in a gene. Everyday Health says that this gene causes even more problems for red heads. It apparently makes people who have red hair more sensitive to pain in general, including pain caused by hot and cold temperatures.

So, having red hair does mean that you are more likely to get Vitamin D and less likely to have bone problems. This is all good, as long as someone is staying careful in the sun. However, there seems to also be many other disadvantages apparent in people with red hair. Hopefully in time more research will be done on red hair genes that give more knowledge to this situation, but for now what seems to be clear is that if you have red hair, you are faced with certain risks and also some advantages.

Sources:

“How Do I Get the Vitamin D My Body Needs?” Vitamin D Council. Vitamin D Council, n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/how-do-i-get-the-vitamin-d-my-body-needs/>.

DeNoon, Daniel J. “The Truth About Vitamin D: Why You Need Vitamin D.” WebMD. WebMD, 30 Nov. 2010. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/features/the-truth-about-vitamin-d-why-you-need-vitamin-d>.

Kerns, Katie. “Fiery Facts About Redheads.” Everyday Health. Everyday Health Media, 22 Aug. 2013. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-and-beauty-pictures/6-fiery-facts-about-redheads.aspx#05>.

Do children in the foster care system do worse in school?

The foster care system in the United States is not what it should be, and the children in the system face many challenges and difficulties. My father’s family housed foster children when he was growing up, and it definitely is nice to give someone a home and family when they need one. But all of the shifting and the inconsistency of parental figures as well as siblings that are only temporary must affect these children negatively. I wanted to find studies that showed negative effects of the foster care system, and came across many regarding foster children and their academic performance. So, is there a link between foster care and doing worse in school?

One report titled “The Invisible Achievement Gap”  gave a lot of useful information in regards to foster children in California. The study looked at all different kinds of factors. It was found that only about 2/3 of the students who were in foster care attended the same school for a year. Not only are these children moving to new schools, they are moving to entirely new families. The amount of stress that must be for them as well as the difficulties in adjusting to different classes and schedules would clearly make them do poorer academically than children not in the foster care system. In standardized tests, they showed an “achievement gap similar to English learners and to students with disabilities”. Not only that, but foster kids in California were dropping out 5% more than those not in foster care and were graduating 26% less than those not in foster care. This report clearly shows that in California foster children are not performing as well academically as those who are not foster children.

Photo from http://www.saidaonline.com/en/newsgfx/kids%20at%20school-saidaonline.jpg

But why could this be happening? What is it about being in foster care that makes their academics not as strong? As I said earlier, all the moving around must take a toll. Probably one of the most important reasons they are falling behind is due to not having as much support to succeed academically from a family unit. According to the Center for Public Education, students who have involved parents meaning the parents attend conferences, go to school events, help fundraise, and more, are more likely to do better in school. This did not change based upon family background or income. Support and involvement really made a difference. While foster care families can be very supportive and involved with their foster child, it does not necessarily offer the consistent support that someone who was born into a supportive family has. This varies of course depending upon a family. Someone not in foster care could have an unsupportive family that causes them to do poorly in school. Similarly, someone who is in foster care could be placed with a very involved family that helps them to succeed. But overall, this is what studies are showing for foster kids.

Other factors could be playing a role, too. According to the Children’s Action Network , children in foster care are put into the system due to neglect or abuse. Coming from a horrible situation like that, the focus on their schoolwork may be affected. According to the Guardian, “children who are abused and neglected at home are more likely than their peers to do badly at school”. All of the things that these children have been through can make it very difficult to succeed, and it’s not their fault. Something needs to be done. These children are not getting the help and guidance that they need. None of this is meant to devalue the families that do take in foster children and help them to have a temporary safe home, because that is an amazing thing. But the reality of the situation is that foster children are not succeeding in school as they should be, and maybe because of this it is time to change the system. What do you think could be done?

Sources:

Barrat, V. X., & Berliner, B. (2013). The Invisible Achievement Gap, Part 1: Education Outcomes of Students in Foster Care in California’s Public Schools. San Francisco: WestEd.

“Back to School: How Parent Involvement Affects Student Achievement (full Report).” Center for Public Education. Center for Public Education, n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. <http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/Main-Menu/Public-education/Parent-Involvement/Parent-Involvement.html>.

“Foster Care Facts.” Children’s Action Network : A Project of the Tides Center. Children’s Action Network, n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. <http://childrensactionnetwork.org/resources.html>.

Ward, Lucy. “Abuse Affects School Work.” The Guardian. The Guardian, 24 May 2005. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fsociety%2F2005%2Fmay%2F25%2Fchildrensservices.schools>.

Does a midlife crisis exist?

A midlife crisis is an idea that is portrayed by our society as happening all the time to people who are of middle age. I understand that at this point in one’s life the thought of actually getting older can be realized and there are many other stressors, but is there scientific evidence that proves the midlife crisis exists? And aren’t there stressors at all other times in our life, not just during middle age? I decided to explore this more and found some interesting results.

According to Psychology Today, the idea of a midlife crisis was introduced by Elliot Jaques in 1965 and then was used by Freudians. It continued to be considered as an accurate description of the struggles one undergoes in middle age. But is there any scientific proof of this? The American Psychological Foundation reported that David M. Almeida has found adults are “juggling too many activities at one time”. People in middle age definitely have a lot of things to worry about that are not necessarily a factor during other times in life. For example, one’s career path, marriage, children, and the thought of aging all can become stressful factors. Such as David M. Almeida stated, all of these together can create negative emotions. I could see how that can cause problems in middle age, but we have many things to stress about in all other times of our life, too. With that being said, I wanted to find more evidence of the possible phenomenon of the midlife crisis.

Photo from http://adrenamag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/midlife-crisis-woman.jpg

According to Dr. Terence Cheng and The Guardian, people are most unhappy between the ages of 40 and 42. So, there is definitely evidence of people undergoing negative feelings at this time, which could lead to a midlife crisis. If someone is unhappy about their life or feels unsettled, this is when the crisis occurs. But other people are more vulnerable than others, according to the American Psychological Association. Things such as gender, personality, and more can effect how one goes through midlife. In one study, Susan Krauss Whitbourne found that events that happened during pervious years in regard to jobs and relationships affected how someone reacted to midlife. This means that it is more likely to be brought on it certain cases.

I think that with this evidence it is clear something occurs during midlife. The thought of one getting older is very hard for some people, and the difference is that when you’re younger you have the power to change these things. When you’re older, you mainly look back and don’t have a lot to change. I believe that is the root of the midlife crisis, causing problems for our generation. However, I am not convinced that there is enough proof for a midlife crisis to be accurate scientifically. I think that our society having this term makes it acceptable for people to be spontaneous and make choices that are uncharacteristic when they’re in middle age. Therefore, having the excuse of a crisis or at least the idea of it in their head makes someone act differently. What do you think?

Sources:

“Midlife Crisis: Thousands around the World Agree That It’s the Real Thing.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 20 Mar. 2014. Web. 14 Sept. 2014. <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/20/midlife-crisis-thousands-around-the-world-agree-that-its-the-real-thing>.

Diller, Vivian. “Midlife Crisis: A Myth or a Reality in Search of a New Name?” Psychology Today. Psychology Today, 7 Apr. 2011. Web. 14 Sept. 2014. <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/face-it/201104/midlife-crisis-myth-or-reality-in-search-new-name>.

Clay, Rebecca A. “Researchers Replace Midlife Myths with Facts.” American Psychological Association. American Psychological Association, Apr. 2003. Web. 14 Sept. 2014. <http://www.apa.org/monitor/apr03/researchers.aspx>.

Could low brain activity really cause Alzheimer’s?

I will always remember my grandmother for the caring, funny, and sweet woman that she was and will always be. However for the last ten years, she has been a victim of Alzheimer’s. Watching her go through this is and was extremely difficult, and right now she is in the severe stage of the disease. It has developed progressively over time, and we have watched her lose all her memories and her unique personality that made her who she was. I wish that the answer to this disease was simple, or that there was a cure. For now there are only speculations and some facts known about how it is caused, with studies happening everyday. One of the potential causes of Alzheimer’s is having low brain activity during one’s life. I decided to explore this and thought it was interesting because my own grandmother didn’t have a job or do many cognitively challenging things as she grew older. If she did, would it have made a difference?

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To find the answer to this question it is important to also understand the other possible causes of Alzheimer’s. There are a lot of gray areas with this. According to the National Institute on Aging, potential causes include someone’s diet, how much they exercise, and also brain activity. More proven causes according to the Alzheimer’s Association include age, the inheritance of certain genes and family history. While the previous factors are definitely linked to Alzheimer’s, the other factors such as diet, exercise, and the amount of brain activity one has may also be linked. It’s not certain, however it is clear that the causes of Alzheimer’s are very complex so those factors could play a role in the disease as well as be used to prevent one’s chances of having the disease.

In the case of my grandmother, her mother also had Alzheimer’s. There is proven to be a strong hereditary link with this disease, and my grandfather says that he remembers taking care of my grandmother’s mother the exact same way that he is taking care of my grandmother now. According to the Alzheimer’s Association this and many other studies prove that it can be inherited, whether it is through the genes Amyloid precursor protein, Presenilin-1, and Presenilin-2 that guarantee someone will get it, or through the gene Apolipoprotein E-e4, which does not guarantee inheriting the disease. While that probably played a role with my grandmother, isn’t there a possibility that many people have this gene and still do not have Alzheimer’s? It is true that with Apolipoprotein E-e4 one may not get Alzheimer’s, so therefore certain other factors could make it more possible for some people to get it and not others. This makes me believe that the factors such as exercise, brain activity, and diet could play a role.

Photo from http://www.leadingage.org/uploadedImages/Images/Newsroom/alzheimers.jpg.

A way to test this would be to do a longitudinal study with people who have not had any history of Alzheimer’s in their family. That would eliminate the possibility of the person having the genes that directly give someone Alzheimer’s. They may still have Apolipoprotein E-e4, which could cause Alzheimer’s and was just not expressed in family history, but these people would still work for the study. This is because the study would be looking at those other possible lifestyle factors, so even if someone had that gene, what they do in their lifestyle is the important aspect. It could look at people who are like my grandmother and do not have very much brain activity, as well as people who have a job or lifestyle that requires a lot of cognitive ability. The study would follow them from a young age into old age to see if they developed Alzheimer’s disease, and therefore maybe new information could be given about how choices that one actually can control affect the prevalence of the disease.

While this study would be extremely helpful, there are many reasons why it could be a challenge. People in general do not like to think about aging, which is probably one of the reasons this disease does not have the attention that it deserves. Also, if the disease is unavoidable which is basically how it is perceived to be now, then people may be hesitant to see the point in looking at this. Longitudinal studies are also hard logistically in that people move all the time or have other commitments, and it’s a lot of time to be a participant in a study. However, I think that if this study could happen, it would be very influential.

There have been some studies that show there is an association between brain activity and Alzheimer’s. According to the National Institute on Aging , there was an observational study done about this specific factor that “looked at the impact of ordinary activities like listening to the radio, reading newspapers, playing puzzle games, and visiting museums”. It was found that the people who did these ordinary activities more had a 47% lower risk of having the disease. Clearly scientists are working everyday to find a cure, but until then we have to do what we can to protect ourselves from this horrible disease. This article gives light to the various activities one can do to stimulate the brain. This can include mediating, talking to yourself, puzzles such as Sudoku, and various other brain exercises. If there is a link or even possibly one, taking the extra effort to engage in brain activities is worth it.

Sources:

“Alzheimer’s & Dementia Risk Factors.” Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s Association, 2014. Web. 09 Sept. 2014. <http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_causes_risk_factors.asp>.

Dachis, Adam. “Top 10 Tips and Tricks to Train, Exercise, and Better Your Brain.” Lifehacker. Lifehacker, 29 Jan. 2011. Web. 09 Sept. 2014. <http://lifehacker.com/5746353/top-10-tips-tricks-and-tools-to-train-exercise-and-better-your-brain>.

“Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease: What Do We Know?” National Institute on Aging. National Institute on Aging, Sept. 2012. Web. 10 Sept. 2014. <http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/preventing-alzheimers-disease/search-alzheimers-prevention-strategies>.

Gyms in America

Are gyms really necessary? That may sound strange, but maybe after reading this post you will see fitness centers from a different perspective. Don’t get me wrong, I love going to the gym and exercising. But I have also been to developing countries in my lifetime, most recently to Sri Lanka, and something I have realized about the world and seen first-hand is that many countries don’t have gyms. Not only that, but many countries do not have the obsession with gyms that America does. Fitness centers have been such a big part of American culture for as long as I have been alive, so I guess I just never thought about how they aren’t as popular in other places. The number of gyms in America is incredible and continuing to grow. Interestingly enough, even with the number of gyms rising, obesity in America is only increasing. So begs the question, why do we have so many gyms and are they even worth it? And why aren’t other countries as obsessed as we are?

While more gyms exist in America, the prevalence of obesity is not decreasing. In fact, obesity in the US is increasing. A report from the American Heart Association showed that in 1971, people between the ages of 12 and 19 had an obesity rate of 6.1% . This rate rose to a shocking 18.2% in 2010, a dramatic increase. Gyms started becoming established and gained popularity in the 1970’s. For example, the first Gold’s Gym was built in 1965, and by 1980 there were many more locations. So does that mean gyms just aren’t working and the world was better off before? It seems strange that as gyms are being introduced, obesity is getting worse. I would like to say those questions are easy to answer, but there are many factors and influences that play a role in someone’s health.

Photo from: http://www.masc.sc/SiteCollectionImages/uptown/NMB_Aquatic_and_Fitness_Center.jpg

First of all, while there may be more gyms and an emphasis on increased physical activity today, there are also many more unhealthy foods available for people to eat. As I mentioned before, I traveled to Sri Lanka and they have a very distinct diet. They eat mainly food that they grow themselves, and it was sad to see that in more developed areas of the country, fast food restaurants are being built. I talked to someone who lives there about this, and she told me that children in Sri Lanka are excited about fast food and think that it’s cool to eat. She hoped people would continue to see the value in the native Sri Lankan food and appreciate it for how healthy and delicious it is. I thought it was very interesting to see how fast food is perceived in an area that sees much less of it. It made me realize how much fast food we do have in the US, as well as processed food in general. According to a recent interview with US News, Michael Moss suggested that the average American eats twice the recommended amount of salt, 70 pounds of sugar, and 11% of calories from saturated fat in one year. Of course, there are exceptions to this, but that has definitely impacted obesity and is the one of the most dominant factors.

There are other factors that could contribute to obesity such as the fact that we eat more now in general and go out to eat more often which causes an increase of calories. People have jobs that require much less physical labor as well, which would reduce the amount of physical activity we have overall.  The American Heart Association reported that “sedentary jobs have increased 83% since 1950” and that “physically active jobs now make up only about 25% of our workforce”. According to The Guardian, Sri Lanka has an inactivity rate with regard to adults of 25.9%. However, the United States has an inactivity rate of 40.5%. Clearly the overall lifestyle choices for food and daily life make a huge difference in whether someone gets the physical activity they need. Sri Lanka doesn’t have many gyms, yet they are able to achieve more physical activity. Also, even though America has so many gyms, Statisticbrain.com reported that the percentage of people in the US that have gym memberships and never use them is 67%, and the amount of money that goes to waste every month on average for a gym membership is $39. So, gyms are available, but that doesn’t mean people are using them.

Overall, America allows for the gym industry to expand every day. Currently, statisticbrain.com reports that the gym and health club annual revenue is $21,800,000,000. It opens many doors for new job opportunities, because now there are trainers, classes, and new options for exercise. Staying healthy is obviously important and the gym is great in that aspect. But we should remember that our culture is superficial, and it’s interesting and also important to understand that many people in the world do not even have access to a gym.

The conclusion that can be made is that, yes, gyms are a great option for people trying to stay healthy. But if we did not have so many unhealthy foods available to us and we incorporated more physical activity into our daily routines, gyms would probably not be necessary. Fitness centers are more of a business now and because of America’s obsession with appearance, it is likely they are a trend that will not stop for a very long time. Going to the gym has almost become something one is expected to do and that is difficult to ignore. I’m still going to go to the gym, but now have a deeper understanding of what I’m contributing to and why I’m there and this makes it feel a little bit different.

Sources:

Berger, Brooke. “Wait, We’re Eating What?” US News. U.S.News & World Report, 28 Mar. 2013. Web. 08 Sept. 2014.

Rogers, Simon. “Which Are the Laziest Countries on Earth?” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 18 July 2012. Web. 06 Sept. 2014.

“Gym Membership Statistics.” Statistic Brain RSS. Statistic Brain, 13 July 2014. Web. 08 Sept. 2014. <http://www.statisticbrain.com/gym-membership-statistics/>.

“About Gold’s Gym.” Gold’s Gym. Gold’s Gym, 2014. Web. 08 Sept. 2014. <http://www.goldsgym.com/why-golds-gym/about-golds/>.

Go As, Mozaffarian D, Roger VL, Benjamin EJ, Berry Jd, Borden WB, Bravata DM, Dai S, Ford ES, Fox CS, Franco S, Fullerton HJ, Gillespie C, Hailpern SM, Heit JA, Howard VJ, Huffman MD, Kissela BM, Kittner SJ, Lackland DT, Lichtman JH, Lisabeth LD, Magid D, Marcus GM, Marelli A, Matchar DB, McGuire DK, Mohler ER, Moy CS< Mussolino ME, Nichol G, Paynter NP, Schreiner PJ, Sorlie PD, Stein J, Turan TN, Virani SS, Wong ND, Woo D, Turner MB; on behalf of the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Heart disease and stroke statistics- 2013 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2013;127: e6-e245

“The Price of Inactivity.” American Heart Association. American Heart Association, n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2014. <http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/PhysicalActivity/FitnessBasics/The-Price-of-Inactivity_UCM_307974_Article.jsp>.

First blog

Hey everyone! My name is Emily Swope and I’m a sophomore majoring in Human Development and Family Studies. I decided to take this course because I have heard that it’s great for non-science majors trying to fulfill general education requirements while also being one of the most interesting courses offered at Penn State. My adviser even said if she could take one class here it would be this one. I’m not a science major because science has never been something that I enjoyed or even considered as a possible career option. It’s always been very difficult for me. I’m more of a humanities person, as you can tell by major.