This is Psyching Me Out by Alexandria

This is Psyching Me Out by Alexandria - June 2025 Scholarship Essay

An extracurricular that I believe should be a required class is psychology. I believe that this is becoming a required course in many schools but I do think it is still regarded as an elective. A class such as this would expose students to mental health disorders that might be affecting them or affecting people close to them that they would not have recognized earlier.
Beyond recognizing mental health conditions, psychology education would provide students with life skills that extend beyond the classroom. Understanding basic psychological principles helps develop better communication abilities, emotional intelligence, and empathy toward others. Students would learn about cognitive biases that influence decision-making, stress management techniques, and healthy coping mechanisms that can be invaluable during the developmental and turbulent teenage years and taken into adulthood.
Additionally, psychology classes would reduce the stigma surrounding mental health by normalizing conversations about emotional wellbeing and psychological struggles. This could encourage students to seek help when needed rather than suffering in silence. The curriculum covering topics like the science behind emotions, relationship dynamics, conflict resolution, and personal development strategies would support this further.
Given that mental health issues among teenagers have increased significantly in recent years, making psychology a required course would equip students with knowledge and tools to better understand themselves and support their peers. This foundational understanding could lead to healthier communities and more emotionally intelligent future leaders.