Song Psychology

As I walked to psychology class last Wednesday, I buried my head in my hands and told myself that this class would be different. This time there would be no boring slideshow telling me the names of people that I could care less about, doing things that I could care less about, and having “amazing revelations” that I could care less about. Today would be a day of enlightenment and true learning, a day that would spur glorious discourse on the human condition! At least, so I hoped.

It quickly became apparent that this would not be the case. As I slumped down into my seat and saw the oh too familiar flicker of light as the projector growled into life, I quickly realized this day would be no different from any other. We would sit. We would listen (for some this entailed leaning backwards with eyes wide shut, so as to simulate sleep). We would take notes. We would leave. This was the order we had followed since the beginning of the semester and, I’m convinced, had been handed down to man from a higher power so that we could bore others into submission.

Yet unbeknownst to me, the day was not lost. Near the middle of class, a faint glimmer of hope began to peek through the cracks of boredom and spread its warm glow of promise upon the frozen heart of my expectations. The teacher approached the room and asked, “What song describes your life?” Well obviously, this sort of open ended question baffled the majority of the class and we collectively sat in stunned silence, at least until one brave soul stepped forward to claim the mantle of psychology champion. “All By Myself!” he proudly proclaimed, as the class lurched forward in laughter. The teacher, amused by the comment, decided to encourage more students to yell out their songs.

Needless to say, class quickly degenerated into a mass of students each attempting to outdo each other with ridiculous song puns and sexual innuendo. The teacher, glad to see everyone participating, did little to curb our enthusiasm (yes I know that’s an improv show reference).

By the end of class, I was smiling from ear to ear and eager to return that Friday. I can honestly say that it was one of the best classes I have had at TCU and I hope to have many more like it.