Psych Out in Psych Club

Students at South have long talked about the “legend” that is Mr. Andy Cantrell, the psychology teacher. With his enjoyable personality and interesting subject-matter, students can’t help but tell others about their experiences in his class. Because of this, AP Psychology is a well-known and often-taken class at South. But what if you want to take this class but can’t fit into your schedule? Or what if you want to dive even deeper into psychology? Well, that is what Psych club is all about.

“As a sophomore, I took regular Psychology with Mr. Dorr, and AP Psych never really fit into my schedule so I find that Psych Club is a great way to kind of get connected with my friends without being pressured by that AP grade and also get some cool time with Cantrell,” Sam Pfeiffer, junior, said.

Meeting after school on Tuesdays, the members of this club get the opportunity to discuss and explore all aspects of the human mind and how it works. As a typically student-led club, the members have done a range of things from watching TV series that discuss mental illnesses to field trips to projects that pertain to the club’s current topic of conversation.

“I really enjoy getting to discuss psychology in a much more informal setting because when I talk about psych in my classroom, it is very like, you know, the pace goes kind of quickly and stuff so we don’t get a lot of time really delving deep into different psychological concepts,” Cantrell said.

Despite the fact that the students decide what projects to do, shows to watch, and topics to discuss, Cantrell is still very active and involved with the members and the club discussions. In a more laid-back environment, members of this club are able to talk about the things that interest them and have quality time with their friends and Cantrell as a way to decompress from the stressful school day.

“I think the fact that it’s just a club, it’s extracurricular, and there is no real commitment and just being able to have fun and have kind of a positive learning experience is pretty good,” said Pfeiffer.

Overall, Psych Club is a place that students are able to find and feel a sense of belonging. Open to all students at South, the members of this club are always ready for more participation!