James Fisher is using his psychology major and religious studies minor to go into pastoral psychology

Written byAshley McClure-French

鈥淢测 religious studies minor courses have shown me how to look at things in a different light and from a new perspective. It鈥檚 a very beneficial thing to me, and I think to most people. I really enjoy being able to look at situations from other perspectives than my own.鈥

James Fisher is a psychology student at the 欧美三级片.
James Fisher
Major
Psychology
Hometown
Tallulah, La.

Where I'm From

I鈥檓 from Tallulah, La., where I went to Episcopal summer camp my entire life.

Where I Am

I鈥檓 majoring in psychology and making the connection between psychology, sociology, and religion.

Where I'm Going

I am going to be a pastoral counselor and help people with spiritual and mental guidance.

James Fisher, a psychology major, has found his passion for psychology, sociology, and philosophy at UL Lafayette. With his minor, though, he also found his niche. 

鈥淢测 religious studies minor courses have shown me how to look at things in a different light and from a new perspective,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very beneficial thing to me, and I think to most people. I really enjoy being able to look at situations from other perspectives than my own."

鈥淏ecause of these courses, I try to look at things from multiple different perspectives and see if there is a right or wrong,鈥 he explained, 鈥渙r if it鈥檚 just an opinion-based matter. I think that鈥檚 been very beneficial to me so far and I hope to keep expanding on that.鈥

James credits his professors with helping him develop his attitude and understanding of the world. 

鈥淚 haven鈥檛 had a bad professor yet,鈥 James said. 鈥淭he course load might be a lot, but the professors have been doing an excellent job at reaching out to us and being there for when we need them. They鈥檙e trying their hardest so we can be our brightest and I can really appreciate that.

鈥淭he open-mindedness and willingness to discuss things in class with the intention of gaining a new insight is one of the things I really enjoy about in my courses,鈥 he said.

James鈥檚 plans for graduate school might not be fleshed out to the last detail, but he knows what direction he鈥檚 heading. 

鈥淚 like the idea of pastoral psychology,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like being a therapist but with more of a theological mind-set behind it. So, it鈥檚 pointing you in the way of spiritual guidance as well as mental guidance.鈥

His interests in religious studies started early in his life.

鈥淚鈥檝e been going to Episcopal summer camp my entire life,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檝e been on the staff for it for the past two summers. Doing that, I get to spend a lot of time learning about the bible and learning about other people鈥檚 perspective on the bible. But I hadn鈥檛 learned too much about other religions.鈥

James has been enjoying his classes and making connections between his psychology major and his religious studies minor.

鈥淟earning the sociology of religion was really interesting to see,鈥 he explained. 鈥淚鈥檝e enjoyed finding the correlation between religious values and morals, and comparing Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and seeing all the similarities between them.鈥

He could have studied elsewhere, but his tour of UL Lafayette made his decision a little easier.

鈥淎t other universities, I just fell into the crowd and I felt like no one really noticed me,鈥 he said. 鈥淏ut when I was touring UL Lafayette, I was talking to current students on campus and I even got invited to come watch the Floyd and Pacquiao fight. It was a more welcoming environment and I really liked that a lot.鈥

His experiences since have lived up to his expectations.

鈥淓veryone I鈥檝e met so far has been really friendly,鈥 James said. 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 met anyone that has just been outright rude or trying to one-up you in any way. Everyone is very encouraging. It鈥檚 a very nice community to be in.鈥

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