passion project

If you follow the progression of the projects I completed during this semester, you will find there is a clear correlation between all projects and the topic of Positive Psychology. This topic started with the Rhetorical Analysis project. Since I am a psychology major, I chose a TED talk by Martin Seligman to analyze for my Rhetorical Analysis project. Martin Seligman is known as one of the founding fathers of Positive Psychology. This one TED talk led me to begin researching the studies and benefits of implementing positive psychology in your daily life. While many would attribute this to just "positive thinking", it pertains to achieving positivity on a far deeper psychological level. A level that, for the better part of 60 years, was overlooked. During that time, the field of psychology focused on the medical aspect of mental health and made phenomenal breakthroughs to help in the advancement of treatments and the diagnosis of severe mental illnesses. However, like Seligman said in his TED talk, they forgot about the normal people. So, I wanted to dive into this area. I've experienced the loss of friends due to suicide. I've seen depression on the face of my closest loved ones. I've watched anxiety debilitate those close to me. And, I wish I could say I was only referencing one person in each of these scenarios, but the fact is- it is several. It doesn't matter the age, social status, their career, family, etc. I feel a personal connection to this field of study, and I am very grateful I had the opportunity to explore this topic through this project. I believe with early intervention through community events and programs, we can help achieve a level of positive psychology at a younger age that will last a lifetime. This will lead to better coping skills, higher self-esteem, sense of worth, and a feeling of purpose. This will lower the chances of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideations. I truly believe, because of this class, and these projects, I've found the exact direction I am meant to go with my Psychology degree.