Do you ever wonder why people do what they do, or why someone is the way they are? If you find yourself questioning human behavior, you may want to consider learning more about psychology. Luckily, Oak Park and River Forest High School students have many opportunities to get involved.
Psychology Club, which currently has about 25 members, offers one path. A typical meeting is spent exploring various topics presented by student leaders. Sometimes the topics call for interactive activities such as creating an imaginary cult, and sometimes the lessons are more informative, teaching members of the club about various concepts within the discipline.
Another highlight of the club is field trips, like the one they took this April to University of Illinois-Chicago to the Psychology Department.
Student leader Amaya Warner, a junior, said sponsor Janelle Smithson makes Psychology Club an enjoyable experience. “Ms. Smithson makes it a really inviting, you know, environment where you can sit back and be quiet or you can share. And I feel like anybody has the opportunity to become a leader.”
Smithson said the community is one of her favorite aspects of Psychology Club. “I also enjoy creating a space where we all feel like we’re having fun together, like the community we can create is one of my favorite parts,” she said. She described the thrill of watching her students achieve “lightbulb moments” when they are “learning about content that they never understood before or knew about before.”
The club is looking to add a newsletter in the coming year. The project is still in the works but is expected to be both digital and print, and passed out to OPRF students twice a quarter. The newsletter will cover varied psychological topics and information the club would like to share with the OPRF community.
Smithson also teaches a one-semester Intro to Psychology class offered to OPRF juniors and seniors.
Those looking for a deeper dive into psychology can consider taking AP Psychology, a two-semester course offered for OPRF juniors and seniors. AP Psych covers a wide variety of topics, connecting our beliefs and behaviors to the world around us.
Teaching the AP Psychology course are Elizabeth Nash, who is soon to retire, and Noah Scibbe, a first-year OPRF teacher. Scibbe was recognized this November at by the District 200 Board of Education as Teacher of the Month after only a few months working inside the OPRF building.
Scibbe described the joy teaching brings to his everyday life, saying, “The opportunity to work with people who want to know more…is what gives me a lot of energy, and it gets me excited to teach every day.”
Nash and Scibbe agreed that psychology can also create a fun atmosphere in the classroom, especially because the students are curious and willing to engage with the material. “And a lot of times it is very fun because y’all are very silly, and…you make me laugh,” Scibbe said.
Nash agreed, saying: “What I’ll miss the most when I retire are the students. They are so insightful and thoughtful.” Nash, who has been teaching for 23 years, earned a degree in political science and began her career in different professions including marketing, hotels and even in dog kennels. She ended up being called to the profession of teaching and is now teaching both AP Psychology and Philosophy.
Psychology is beneficial for young adults especially because adolescence is a period of discovery, she said, adding, “and I think psychology really gives kids a framework to think about questions that they have.”
For students interested in joining Psychology Club, contact Smithson or visit room 3361 at 7:15 a.m. on Tuesdays. For underclassmen interested in taking Intro to Psychology or AP Psychology, visit your counselor.
