Pamela Burke
Women's and Gender Studies Major
Hi! I'm Pamela Burke, a Psychology major with a double minor in Women's Studies and Sociology, plus, I'm seeking certification in Secondary Education. My ultimate goal after Lycoming is to teach for several years and then go on to grad school. I am from Parsippany, New Jersey, but in many ways Lyco is now my home.
Women's and Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary program which features many interesting courses in psychology, art, literature, sociology, history, and religion. My favorite class was Gendered Perspectives. We discussed issues such as sex discrimination, women's rights, and hate crimes. We also looked at sexual lifestyles such as homosexuality, heterosexuality, and transgender. The class was totally engaging as we openly discussed myths and realities in a comfortable atmosphere.
Another informative and interesting class was Sociology of Family which looked at the wide variety of issues facing families today. We discussed how politics and elected leaders can change definitions of "family," we researched dual-income families and the innovations needed to keep these families successful, and we studied how the role of grandparenthood is rapidly evolving. All topics were incredibly interesting.
Lycoming has given me the opportunity to participate in many organizations on campus. I am currently involved in the Multicultural Awareness Club, Treasurer of my class, Vice President of Student Pennsylvania State Education Association, and a member of the Psychology Club.
What I like best about Lycoming is the openness of the profs. Last spring, some of us stayed after class to discuss an upcoming assignment with the teacher. We started talking about our research and findings but then the conversation turned to roommates, dance club, soccer, and even funny videos on YouTube. It's great to be at a place where you can go to your prof for help or a friendly conversation.
With two years down and two to go, I know Lyco is the right place for me.