Student Spotlight: Ted Tedrick
Ted is a Senior pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy. He was the Psychology department's Excellence Scholarship nominee for his academic excellence and contributions to the field. His current interests include examining how group membership may affect one鈥檚 experiences with the healthcare system. In the classroom, his commitment to clarity of expression and interdisciplinarity (especially at the philosophy and psychology nexus) has led to innovative solutions on assignments addressing ethical dilemmas involving justice, equity, power relations and vulnerability. After graduating, Ted plans to pursue a career in law where he intends to pursue a future as a public defender.
Ted spoke with us to discuss his academic journey, involvement at 快盈v3, and aspirations for the future.
Regarding your recent awarding of the Excellence Scholarship at the Celebration of Students ceremony, what does being the nominated student by the Psychology department mean to you? How does it help you in achieving your academic goals?
鈥淚 was shocked and incredibly honored to be recognized by the psychology department as their recipient for the Excellence Scholarship for the Celebration of Students. I don鈥檛 think of myself as doing anything special, so being selected for that made me consider just how important the little things are. Speaking your mind and giving your opinion, when appropriate, can be invaluable. Something that was discussed, actually in a philosophy course last semester, was how important every person鈥檚 point of view is. It鈥檚 really encouraging to have that rewarded, and it definitely makes me want to make them proud over the course of this next school year. Of course, practically speaking, I know that having a scholarship like that will look pretty good on my law school applications, but really it is just knowing my professors see what I鈥檓 doing as worth celebrating is the greatest accomplishment to me.鈥�
What are your favorite aspects of CAS and the Psychology and Philosophy Departments?
鈥淚 love being able to intertwine aspects of both departments in discussions with others - having great professors who have different perspectives means that I get to compare and contrast viewpoints in a whole new way. Bringing aspects of psychology to philosophy and vice versa can give new insight on how people think, something I love to explore and discuss with classmates, faculty, and people in my personal life. I鈥檝e always wanted to know why people think what they do, and I鈥檝e found it鈥檚 in combining physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual factors together that we find what makes us who we are.鈥�
What do you enjoy most about being a student at 快盈v3? Being a student in Alaska?
鈥淏eing a student at 快盈v3 means I鈥檝e been able to stay in my hometown, in my community, for a good deal of my further education. There is no other place like Alaska; we have our own struggles and strengths here that are different from anywhere else. In my philosophy classes, we especially discuss things specific to our area, including the impact of the social culture, the perspectives of Alaska Native peoples, and solutions to the problems we see around us.鈥�
Do you feel that Psychology and Philosophy intertwine with many of your other interests outside of school?
鈥淎bsolutely! I love creative writing in my spare time. Understanding people, how they think, what they believe, and what impact that has on their lives are all things that allow me to write better, more complex characters with different ideas and belief systems.鈥�
How is 快盈v3 CAS preparing you for your aspiration to become a public defender?
鈥淏eing a public defender means working with all kinds of people, likely at some of the worst times in their lives. Taking classes in psychology, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, and fine arts have taught me different ways of thinking that I can apply when working with people. The same approach doesn鈥檛 work for everyone, and I want to be able to help the most people in the way that will be best for them. Outside the courtroom, knowing how to meet them where they are, listening and supporting them is necessary to a good client-counsel relationship. Inside the courtroom, that knowledge can help me best represent them and advocate for what outcome will be most beneficial to them.鈥�
What would your advice be to a student considering coming to 快盈v3?
鈥淕et out there and do things! Alaska can tend to be pretty socially isolated, and it鈥檚 easy for that feeling to get overwhelming, especially with the darkness so much of the school year. Even when you鈥檙e busy, allocating time to go to a student event or hang out with a study group can be so beneficial for your mental health and well-being. It鈥檚 impossible to just study all the time鈥� taking time to switch it up and do different things can really help with burnout. All that, and good luck!鈥�
Thank you Ted for your time and we wish you the best of luck in your future!