» A Day in the Life of a Sociology Major

Hello! My name is Laney, and I use she/they pronouns! I am a sociology and psychology double major with a minor in disability studies! I’m a part of Panhellenic, Alpha Kappa Delta (the sociology honors society), Psi Chi (the psychology honors society), and more! I work a couple on campus jobs, both as a peer advisor and as an administrative assistant for the Office of Institutional Compliance!

A few fun facts ...

I love Taylor Swift (and just any sad girl music, ex: boygenius, Big Thief, etc.), I like movies more than TV shows but books more than movies.

8 a.m.

My day typically starts with a cup of coffee and a quick check of my emails and texts! I also have a pretty rudimentary skin care routine that makes me feel awake and refreshed while I start my day!

9 a.m.

I’ll head to my workout classes! This semester, I’m taking Yogalates and Pickle Ball. If you’re like me and have trouble motivating yourself to go to the gym, you should check these classes out! Also, Coach Mido and Coach CJ are the best! They’re very knowledgeable and understanding I’d recommend taking Self-Defense for Women as well!

10 a.m.

I work as a Peer Advisor for the Department of Psychology at this time! I basically take appointments with psychology students to answer their questions, help plan out their schedules, and more! I also do a lot of administrative tasks around the office. It’s been such an honor to work in this position, and my boss, Nicole, is incredibly helpful, understanding, and kind. If you’re a psychology major, you should come on in and ask questions!

12 p.m.

I love a good bagel, so I’ll usually stop by Einstein’s with a friend or coworker! I’ve been told this is anunpopular choice, but I usually get a cinnamon raisin with cream cheese. While I eat my bagel and perhaps drink my second coffee of the day, I’ll call my Grandma, as we have a scheduled weekly call Wednesdays around noon! I’ll catch her up on my week and she’ll catch me up on hers! I like to find time in my schedule to call my family, because they want to hear all about what I’m up to, and talking to them always makes me feel better, even if I’ve had a busy or stressful day.

1 p.m.

I head to my first class of the day, SOC 318! This class is Quantitative Data Analysis, and it was intimidating at first, but is actually going really well! I love the material since I feel like the analytical and quantitative content makes a lot of sense to me by default. The professor, Dr. Kranjac, is extremely knowledgeable and a really fun teacher!

2:30 p.m.

I head to my second class of the day, PHIL 314! As a philosophy class, this is obviously a far cry from Quantitative Data Analysis, but it’s so much fun, and very analytical in ways you might not expect! The class talks about medical ethics, and I’m taking it for my disability studies minor! Aside from the material being really culturally and politically relevant, the class teaches a lot of analytical skills that are super applicable to any career or field of study, and even to every-day conversations! It also doesn’t hurt that Professor Robinson is a super engaging teacher.

4 p.m.

Now, it’s time for my psychology thesis! My professor, Dr. Desi, is so amazing! She usually does a quick announcement or slideshow about what’s coming up, and then we do work individually while she’s there as a resource. I was very stressed about my thesis projects, but Dr. Desi and my sociology thesis professor, Dr. Rios-Contreras, have been such amazing resources throughout the process, and I’ve really enjoyed my theses so far. For my sociology thesis, I’m interviewing teachers about self-efficacy in high school students; for my psychology thesis, I’m surveying teachers about teacher burnout and compassion fatigue.

7 p.m.

My last meeting on campus is with the Panhellenic executive board! We talk about Greek Life events and organizations and what we’re up to in our positions! As Vice President of Administration, I specifically take care of finances, space-booking, and more. Greek Life has brought a lot of value to my life, and I love the people that I’ve met in my chapter as well as in the whole Panhellenic community. It is so empowering to work with such driven, kind, intelligent women; it definitely changed my college experience for the better.

8 p.m.

Now, it’s time to go home! I usually try to finish all my work at school so I can relax when I get home and have a good work-life balance (it doesn’t always work, but I stay optimistic, LOL)! I’ll try to watch a movie or some TV, perhaps even some Love Island with my roommate!

10 p.m.

Lastly, I shower and get ready for bed, and try to read for half an hour or so (only paper books, no blue light right before bed). Then it’s lights out by midnight, and I do it all again!

Hello! I am a Sociology major with a minor in Entrepreneurship. The clubs I’ve been involved in were Chapman Soccer and Latinx. I am currently working as a research assistant for Dr. Nancy Rios, specifically focusing on the border crisis along the U.S. and Mexican border. Although my background is largely tied to sociology, I will be working in Sales and Marketing upon graduation for a company called Techtronics Industries.

A few fun facts ...

I enjoy going to House Festivals (I’ve been to Escape, Beyond, Under Construction - Fisher & Chris Lake) and I’ve been DJing for a while as well. I like hitting the beach and exploring new areas with friends. I'm a super outgoing and social creature by nature.

8 a.m.

My typical day starts by waking up early in the morning and going for a run-up in the hills of Orange. Once I’m done with my run, I’ll usually get coffee on the way back home, either by myself or by meeting up with friends.

11 a.m.

I head to campus for Leadership 310 with Professor Nick Irwin. I like this class because Prof. Nick makes the class very entertaining with the different activities he has planned. He creates an environment where everyone is comfortable participating and being vulnerable which is quite sick since everyone in class knows each other well by this point.

1 p.m.

I work for a professor as a research assistant, so I tend to be working in the Roosevelt Hall with other research assistants. I enjoy working there because I’ve gotten close to everyone. Plus, everyone is extremely interactive which makes the shifts go by quickly.

2:30 p.m.

After work, I head to my final class of the day which is my Capstone class.

4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Once class is over, I’ll meet up with friends for a couple of hours. Depending on the mood, we either go out to grab some dinner and drinks or hit the pool in the back. Otherwise, we’ll stay in and chop it up.

8 p.m.

Usually, I’ll be home by this time. As a senior, I’ve gotten most of the credits done which allows me to have a mellow schedule. I have about one hour woth of homework a day. After that, I hang out with my roommates the rest of the night shows. If it’s a Thursday though, I’ll be at the bars!