AP Psych Evaluation

Dear Ms. Halfen,

Thank you for a wonderful year as both my economics and psychology teacher. They were both some of the best classes I've taken in highschool do to your amazing curriculum, organization, and knowledge. Seriously- you rock!

I really enjoyed your incorporation of video clips and pop culture references in to your powerpoints, it definitely kept everything engaging. I also really loved getting to watch Inside Out. We also got to watch lots of interesting documentaries and features which I'm a fan of. If I could make one suggestion, it would maybe be to include more documentary style shows rather than What Would You Do, but that may just be because I have major second hand embarrassment so WWYD always makes me cringe.

Other super cool things we did were the different personality or intelligence tests. And having play-doh out during exam weeks was really a touch of genius.

My least favorite activity and really my only complaint for the semester was the disorders unit. In that unit we were supposed to design a fact sheet and teach it to our classmates. Between people's scribbled handwriting and rushing to get the sheets filled in I don't think I learned much of anything in that unit. Especially since disorders often come on the AP, I think it would be better if you taught that unit personally.

I did very much like the structure of the class. Having quizzes instead of tests definitely takes the pressure off, and I like how we know what to expect. Doubling the quiz grade if you don't do vocab is really smart I liked that.

If you want to keep Crash Course in the curriculum I would suggest either making in extra credit or reminding us more. The videos were interesting but I always forgot to watch them by the deadline, as it was never on the board or on remind.

To students taking AP Psych in the future- I suggest 1) doing your vocab and 2) really enjoying the class! Of course there are grades and those matter, but this is a class where the focus should really be about having fun and learning more about your mind and self then you will in any other course.

Finally, I just want to say I appreciate your honesty and frankness in discussing topics like sexuality Ms. Halfen. It really makes your students feel respected. It was a grade class.

- Allison

MEMES

1. PHI PHENOMENON

This skeptical baby is unsure about apparent movement 

2. DEFENSE MECHANISMS

Gatsby is celebrating the fact that his defense mechanism of projection is protecting him from unwanted emotions, like the fact that Daisy doesn't actually love him and the green light of the American Dream is something he may never reach. 

3. SPACING EFFECT

Psychology, science, and Ms. Halfen all say that spacing out your studying is better for learning. 

4. BYSTANDER EFFECT

Diffusion of responsibility means that people don't always do the right action when someone is in need. It gets awkward when you realize you're on What Would You Do

5. HUMANISM

Humanism is a more modern and "feel good" type of psychology. The founders of different branches may not approve. 

I'm Moving On!

In one of my favorite viral videos, this spunky little girl asserts that she is "MOVING ON! I'm going to Jen's!" after her brother throws dirt at her. This is the attitude I've largely had recently towards highschool and my current stage of life. People are rude in the hallway? I'm moving on! Freshman in PE won't be quiet? I'm moving on!

And I have done quite a bit of moving lately. This past weekend I physically moved into a brand new house, one that my family has spent months building. And in less than a month, I will graduate highschool and just three months after that will move across the country to attend college in Illinois. These changes are easily met with enthusiasm, excitement, and like the girl in the video. But change can also be emotional, and that ~emoness~ hit me last night as I found myself crying for no particular reason while unpacking boxes. Crying for no reason has been a facet of my teenage life, so my parents weren't too bothered. I went and listened to one of my favorite songs, Tame Impala's "Yes I'm Changing" which has the impactful lyrics.

"Yes I'm changing, yes I'm gone
Yes I'm older, yes I'm moving on
And if you don't think it's a crime you can come along, with me
Life is moving, can't you see
There's no future left for you and me
I was holding and I was searching endlessly
But baby, now there's nothing left that I can do so
So don't be blue
There is another future waiting there for you" 

Listening to this song helped me mellow out, but I was still left with the question- "Why, in light of all these exciting changes- am I sad?" I turned to psychology to help me get some answers.

1. According to Erik Erikson's Stages of Development I am in the Identity vs. Confusion stage of my development. 

I have been secure in my identity while in highschool. There's a number of labels that fit me: AP Student, Debater, Decathlete, etc. But as soon as I walk across the stage at graduation, those labels don't mean much anymore. My next stage is early adulthood, and I have no idea if I'm ready for it. All of this is bound to cause some emotional confusion. 

2. Taking a more biological view- my menstrual cycle probably had an effect on my recent emotional outburst. According to this blog post on Psychology Today, during the week of menstruation "you may cry easily as you let go of the thoughts that no longer serve you." My hormones are physically different, and I am symbolically restarting a cycle of life, which fits in with the major changes taking place.

3. I'm probably trying to decide where I fit in the world, as far as freedom goes. This blog on psychology today explains the push and pull of a graduating senior's desire for freedom. It asserts that "it feels like everything has changed and that the time to answer only to oneself has finally arrived." I probably do feel like this on some level, and these feelings are probably more confused by the fact that I actually just moved back in with my parents after months of staying with my grandmother while the house was being built. Basically, I'm sorting out how much autonomy I have, or even want, and that can be emotional. 

Regardless, for better or worse, I'm Movin On!