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A nna Marie Boughton

From: Dallas, Georgia

Major: Psychology

Why this major: By the end of high school, I knew I wanted to study psychology to be a therapist and better understand people in general. A Careers in Psychology course gave me confidence I would find fulfilling work with this degree.

Why Georgia College & State University: Both of my older siblings graduated from Georgia College. I wanted to attend a smaller school with a personal experience with professors. Georgia College stood out as providing a promising academic education, as well as an opportunity to experience community in a new way. I am beyond grateful I came here. I’ve met some of the most incredible people—both students and professors—that have encouraged my growth tremendously. I can’t imagine going to school anywhere else.

Activities: This past year I had the privilege of serving on an incredible leadership team with a Christian ministry called Kudzu. I’ve also been a part of Psi Chi, the honors society for psychology students.

Most impactful: I studied abroad five weeks in Montepulciano, a small Italian town in Tuscany. Traveling with close friends, exploring different cities, going on educational excursions, learning the art and history, and experiencing the people and culture changed my worldview tremendously.

Research: I joined Dr. Heppner’s Social Psychology research lab my junior year and immediately helped design the GC Mental Health Resource Look Book. Being a part of Dr. Chiang’s Social Emotional Development lab has also given me greater confidence in my abilities. We worked with children at the Early Learning Center (ELC) in Baldwin County, running studies on emotional competence and teaching lessons on empathy. In both, I had incredible opportunities to create research designs, run experiments and present findings at several different conferences.

One of my study abroad classes, Interpersonal Relationships Across Cultures with Dr. Chiang, required us to observe relationships. I see a lot of Americans using their phones while spending time together. It made me wonder  how phone distraction impacts relationships. I decided to observe and compare phone use in the U.S. and Italy. I learned, when sharing meals together, Americans get distracted by cell phones more than Italians.

Biggest Achievement: I received the Dr. Euri Bolton Award for Outstanding Research from the psychology department. That was a huge honor.

Favorite Class: Easily the most unforgettable class was senior seminar in Adventure Therapy with Dr. Gillis. He’s a phenomenal professor who challenges us to grow personally and professionally. My group and I bonded while doing adventure therapy challenges and reflections together.

Lesson learned: The biggest lesson I learned is to pursue peace rather than worry. I didn’t come to college worry-free. Letting go and releasing control, trusting that everything is being worked out for the purpose God, changed everything about the way I view my life and the future. It’s  given me rest and joy, in exchange for fear and doubt. I try to take life day-by-day, work hard at what I do, and let the rest fall into place.

Key to success: The key is how you spend your time, and whether you accept or reject responsibility. There’ll always be a million things fighting for your attention. Learning to choose wisely is what gives us time and balance. It’s important to learn good study skills and do your work well without compromising your mental health, social life and sleep. Easier said than done but worth aiming for.

How she’s changed during college: I started at another school before transferring to Georgia College sophomore year. My mentality there was simply to get by. Coming here, I can honestly say I was not the same person I am now in just about every way. My heart, attitude, how I spend my time, where I find my purpose and even my outward self has changed drastically. Not everyone will have this radical change. Mine wasn’t due to my own efforts but because of the work Jesus did in me.

Advice for incoming students: Get involved in activities and groups that challenge you to grow and take risks. Try to learn from every person you meet. Be teachable, ask questions and get to know other people. Your time here will end, but the relationships don’t have to. Enjoy life. It won’t get less busy, so learn to delight in small moments and be content in any circumstance.

Future plans: My main goal is to do biblical Christian counseling and run my own practice or work with a church or organization of counselors. For this, I plan to get a masters in counseling.

How Georgia College helped: Georgia College helped me discover and develop unknown talents and abilities. I learned more about my passions and interests and was affirmed in my leadership abilities through opportune projects. I worked closely with professors who cheer me on, as I move forward to the next phase. My time here helped me grow tremendously into a more driven, passionate and professional student—while showing me how to live in and appreciate community. I’m truly grateful for my time here and each person I’ve met along the way.