A couple facts about Sociology:
1) It’s probably the shortest major to complete offered
at BYU, coming in at a simple 48 credit hours.
2) It’s an open major, meaning I don’t have to
slave away for those unnecessary A’s that I am definitely not receiving and I
don’t have to put together an application and pray the Gods feel favorable to
me that day and let me into their secret club.
3) It’s considered easy and let’s get real- a lot
of the student athletes heavily involved in the winning sports teams major in it because it has
that reputation *cough* KYLE COLLINSWORTH IS IN MY SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS CLASS
*cough*
But disregarding all those awesome facts up thurr ^, let’s
talk about how it’s actually been really hard for me…
I came into college
and I thought I wanted to be a math teacher. If everyone has a thing in high
school, my “thang” (besides band…..duh) was math. Excluding calculus from this
equation (ha. Get it?), I was GOOD at math. I excelled at it and I enjoyed
doing my math homework at night. Why, you ask? It had set formulas and it had
set processes. When doing these processes, you had no reason to fear that the
correct answer was not going to appear. If it did, you were simply just doing
the equation wrong and you could try again.
Cue college and the entrance of sociology and the tumultuous
applause for Nicole who finally chose a major.
People have always intrigued me. I love asking questions
such as “Why did that person do that?” or “Why did society vote for that
presidential candidate?” or even “Why did that annoying bystander try to talk
to me on campus?”. Yeah, things like that. Sociology allows me to do that. Yes,
it may be considered a science and have set processes (occasionally. Only occasionally),
but most of the time we have to turn into those free thinkers writing essays
about interpreting Karl Marx’s theory of society and Durkheim’s study of
suicide and random theories that go over my head 99% of the time. It’s made me view life in a different respect and pushed me to intellectual limits I thought reserved for smart people (a.k.a. DEFS NOT ME).
I’ve realized lately that no matter how much I claim to (and
actually do) hate people, people are so
incredibly imperative in this life. Not just one person, but people as a whole-
people as a society. I may be an introvert and avoid small talk like Ebola, but
I cannot deny the extent that human interaction and understanding human
relationships in society is imperative to our success and to our salvation.
Yes, salvation #iwentthere
If Heavenly Father didn't want to us to use each other- our
brothers and sisters- to travel this journey called life together, then why did
he put us on this earth together? If it was as simple as living on a small
cottage sized planet alone that was reserved for each of His children then you
could tell me that your relationships don’t matter. But here I am typing this
while I hear the conversations of my roommates in the kitchen, so the answer is
no.
I am the first to admit that people anger me; I put too much
trust into human beings and then they spit in my face and call it rain. I've
been betrayed, insulted, abandoned, and belittled by too many people I once
gave the title “best friend”. Looking back though, would I change those
relationships? Would I avoid them knowing what was to come? Stupid and weak
Nicole says heck yessssss. But 20 year Nicole who has a couple years under her
belt that she never wears says BRING IT SNITCHES CUZ I’LL DO IT AGAIN.
So back to the original question- Why am I a Sociology
major? Because very, very deep down,
I love people. I am grateful for the lessons they teach me, the challenges they
present me, the shoulders they give me to cry on, and the hands they give me to
hold. The truth is, I couldn't go through this life without each and every
single person on this planet, whether they call me friend or foe. Whether they
realize and/or like it or not, they can’t get through this life without me. And
if I can make it just a little easier for people to get through life, then majoring in
Sociology and studying social theory until 3 am has been all worth it.
But for right now..... this picture I created accurately depicts how I feel about my Sociology classes this semester:
However, if you are not familiar with this picture, then take a gander at this video clip of one of my all time movies of childhood and enjoy.
I may not have a great job or future lined up for me once graduation hits, but I sure do love the people I get to experience it all with!
