Lydia Peterson Senior Profile

Written by Rachel Murphy ’15

Senior Lydia Peterson declared a Sociology/Anthropology major after having taken very few classes in the major. She took Introduction to Sociology, and “I really have to credit that for my being in the major because it was one of the only classes I took before I declared the major.” What attracted her to it was the class format and feeling. “I enjoyed the discussions and how interesting the class discussions were. I had never taken a class up to that point that had such interesting class discussions and really pertained to life…it really opened my eyes to structures that are in place and things that were going on in the world that weren’t quite right that I had never really thought about before.” Unlike many of her peers, Peterson didn’t take her Intro to Sociology class until her sophomore year, and thus joined the major a bit later, but has had no trouble finishing and getting all her credits. Nor was the decision to add the major totally based on her impression from one class. “Before I declared the major” she explains “I looked at what the requirements were, and what types of classes I would be taking, and what the foundation or core classes were, and it all sounded really interesting.”

Lydia Peterson, Class of 2015

Now, as a senior, Peterson will be graduating with a SOAN degree and says that completing the major has greatly affected how she sees the world. “I think it’s definitely made me more aware of similarities and differences with different cultures and it’s made me think more about the different perspectives of other cultures as well.”

Unlike many of her peers, Peterson chose to do a domestic off-campus study program (similar to fellow senior major Carly Tsuda). This past interim Peterson went on an education class where she worked at a school in the Twin Cities, where she was placed in a kindergarten classroom.  “That’s the thing about Sociology/Anthropology; you don’t have to go to an exotic country to find it. It can be just in the Cities.” She notes that because of her SOAN training, she was able to see many of the racial and class issues occurring in the school and community.

She encourages other students to consider the major, but laughingly warns them to “be prepared for a lot of reading and a lot of writing.” She notes that “it’s not a lot of memorization of facts” but rather critical thinking and “coming to terms with new ideas and your own ideas.” The classes, she says, aren’t “your typical lecture classes, they’re more conversational” just like that first class that attracted her to the major. This quality, she says, has developed her conversation participation skills. “It keeps you on your toes during the class time, and it makes the class worth your time.” Unlike in classes with low student participation rates, in SOAN classes, with their emphasis on discussion, “your time seems to be more about you.”

If you want to contact Lydia Peterson, you can reach her at petersol@stolaf.edu