Hannah Sanders
Hannah Sanders knew psychology was the perfect degree for her. Once she got to Georgia State, the Honors College student dove into the campus community, getting involved in student organizations and an internship with Student Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs). With the knowledge she’s gaining through community service and her courses, she’s hoping to better understand and meet the needs of others.
Interview by Zohra Basmadjian
Tell me a little about yourself and why you chose Georgia State.
I’m a sophomore majoring in psychology (B.A.), and I’m in the Honors College.
I chose Georgia State because I wanted to stay close to home. I also wanted to be in an environment where I would be able to connect with people from different backgrounds and with different personalities. I feel like since Georgia State is so big, and people are from many places, it’s very diverse. I enjoy getting to meet different people and hearing the interesting experiences they’ve gone through.
I also like that there’s a sense of community within the school. I believe students here like to get involved and are very active within the community. It’s nice to see people always interacting, working and coming together to do things.
Why did you choose psychology as your major?
I’ve wanted to study child psychology, social work or school counseling since I was in high school. I wasn’t sure exactly which one, so I chose psychology.
What organizations are you involved with?
I was in the Black Sophomore Society but since I’m technically classified as a junior, I’m not in it anymore because I graduated out of it. The main club I’m involved in is Student Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGS), and I’m a social media intern.
Why did you choose to be a part of those organizations?
There are many things that I can get involved with in Student PIRGs, and I’ve always loved volunteering. The organization allows me to do so by various means. For example, we get to collaborate with other clubs, which builds even more opportunities.
Overall, I like helping when I can.
What have been some of your biggest accomplishments while at GSU?
About two semesters ago, Student PIRGs had a March Madness competition where we tried to educate the most people and get the most petitions in support of Earth Day. I was very proud of that because we won the competition nationwide.
What are some valuable lessons you’ve learned in college?
To always try your best. I’m a trained perfectionist and sometimes I get caught up, but I always remind myself to keep going and put my best effort forward — see how things end up. You never know until you try. You don’t always have to be worried about being rejected or messing up because you can always come back from it.
In what way do you hope to impact your local community?
Since I’ve been getting into my major, I’ve still been interested in child and school psychology. I love helping people out, no matter what it is. Through the organizations I’m in, I hope to learn and gain a better understanding of the wants and needs of people so I can know how to address them in the future. Overall, I want to establish things that people can constantly benefit from.
What advice do you have for other Georgia State students?
No matter what, keep going. People underestimate what they’re capable of and it’s easy to be intimidated when you see people do all this great stuff, but that can always be you if you really live up to it. It might not be quick or easy, but you can always get there.
