This month’s featured psychology major is senior Tianzhi Zhang.
UWPsych:Why did you choose to study psychology?
Zhang:I realized early on how important mental health is, especially at a time when it wasn’t widely recognized or discussed. Learning about mental illness when I was young made me want to understand the human mind and help others. Although many people told me that psychology would be difficult to study, I was determined to pursue it. Over the past three years, I’ve discovered that psychology is not only meaningful but also deeply interdisciplinary—it connects with fields like biology, statistics, sociology, criminology, and even engineering. This diversity continually surprises and inspires me, and it’s the reason I keep loving psychology more every day.
UWPsych: What is a favorite psychology class you have taken and why?
Zhang: My favorite class is Criminal and Forensic Psychology (Psych 526). This course was incredibly engaging and opened the door to a whole new field for me. Before taking it, I had never realized how deeply psychology and criminology are connected, and it really broadened my understanding of how psychological principles can be applied in real-world contexts.
UWPsych: How do you spend your time outside of school? Are you involved in any extracurriculars or jobs?
Zhang: Outside of school, I spend most of my time working in research labs. I’m currently involved in two psychology research projects focusing on AI-assisted qualitative analysis and adolescent mental health. Beyond that, I enjoy writing for my personal blog, where I share accessible psychology concepts with a general audience. These activities help me stay curious and connect what I learn in class to real-world contexts.
UWPsych: Best advice for students considering a psych major or who have already declared?
Zhang: My advice is to make sure you find a way to stay passionate about psychology. I think if there is no enthusiasm, then studying psychology will be a very painful thing, because you need to remember a lot of things, and you need to constantly explore.
UWPsych: What are your plans post-graduation?
Zhang: After graduation, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. My goal is to become a licensed therapist and work with individuals struggling with anxiety and emotional regulation. I hope to apply what I’ve learned from my psychology degree to help people better understand themselves and build healthier coping strategies.
SHOUT OUT: I’d like to give a shout-out to my career advisor, Stephanie, who has been incredibly supportive throughout my time here. Her guidance was practical and encouraging—she shared many useful resources and websites that helped me find summer internship opportunities. I also want to mention Dr. Patti Coffey and Dr. Rhonda Reinholtz, whose classes have truly broadened my understanding of psychology. They not only make the subject engaging and insightful, but also offer valuable advice about academic growth and future career planning.