Whenever I tell someone my minor is psychology a vacant expression paints itself across their face as though all I will be doing with my life is staring into a crystal ball, humming a few prayers and stuffing wads of money from a rowdy bachelorette party into the pockets of my African-inspired garb. Psychology is not "reading people's minds." I've long held position that psychology is a fundamental knowledge of how the world works and whether you're a politician, a business man or hell, even a cashier in a grocery store, psychology is necessary. It's how people reason. It explains why they act the way they do, why they make the choices they make, why they commit crimes, abuse children, eat too much chocolate and wage wars. I'm tired of people thinking my college education is based on reading horoscopes and doodling naked ladies on a legal pad as a middle-aged divorced man wails about his mother on a faux leather couch. My biased, warped little mind believes that psychology can be used to solve many, if not all, of today's problems. Maybe if Bush had been a little more informed of studies involving how overconfidence can lead to poor decisions we would not be in a war right now. Maybe if parents Googled "congitive behavioral therapy" kids wouldn't need so much Ritalin.

Last year during football season my team, a large state school, was up against a tiny college who probably didn't even have a student newspaper. Everyone expected it to be a blowout for us but I predicted something different: if we go into the game feeling like we don't have to try and the other school musters up every ounce of strength they have because they want to prove something, they will win. And what happened? They didn't win, but they tied us in the second quarter and narrowly lost by a few points. I was so proud of myself for drawing on my "useless" minor to predict an outcome. Statistically we were the better team. We were stronger, had a better coach and nicer uniforms. Yet where the other team lacked in skills they made up in spirit. The whole crowd left the stadium that night a bit humbled. There was no such thing as an easy win.

I don't want to be a psychiatrist. I just want to understand the way people think because I believe doing so shall work to my advantage in the future. Then I'll show all those silly business majors who run around campus feeling so entitled because they think they'll be CEOs one day.