Introduction to Psychology was the first course I had ever taken over a winter intercession. I always had an interest in Psychology, so I felt this course would cater to my interests, but it was also a good choice because I could directly apply the knowledge to my major as a music educator. I wasn’t as nervous going into it as I thought I’d be, because being in online classes after being sent home the previous semester due to COVID really prepared me for how to work in an online setting. It was an asynchronous course, and while that provided some challenges, I appreciated the professor’s willingness to work with each individual student’s schedule. He was extremely helpful, quick to reply, and always willing to work with me.

The artifact I chose for this course was a paper I wrote on Post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD is a long-lasting disorder with various symptoms, such as intrusive memories, nightmares, severe anxiety, increased physical arousal, negative thoughts and emotions, and avoiding certain triggers. Our task was to choose a Psychological Disorder, research it, and summarize it in paper format. I have dealt with PTSD myself, so this project was personal and extremely informative for my own benefit. I learned so much about Psychological Disorders in general, but I was extremely grateful for the opportunity to choose and research something that interested me and allowed me the time and space to learn and speak about something I had personally dealt with. The information I gained in this course was super easy to connect to every day life, and allowed me time for personal reflection, as well as reflection on how I would use the information I gained in this course to influence and impact my beliefs and morals as a music teacher.

Psychological Disorder Summary Paper: Tyler Cosley, December 26th, 2020