Catching up with Alice Amell
The Department of Humanities recently caught up with Alice Amell, a 4th year student in Lewis College of Human Sciences. Alice is pursuing a double major in psychology and humanities.
What year in school are you?
I am a fourth year here at Illinois Tech.
What is your major?
I have two majors: psychology and humanities, the latter specializing in philosophy.
Why did you choose these degree programs?
Psychology and philosophy are some of my chief interests and so I wanted to study them in depth and hopefully keep doing them the rest of my life.
What are the most exciting and challenging aspects of the work you're doing now?
The most exciting aspects are the philosophy courses which make me question my own beliefs. I sometimes will need to defend to myself, or come up with a new defense for my ideas because I want to be more consistent or rational. My ideas about ethics have changed a lot and been challenged and I love conversing with my professors about it.
The most challenging part of my work is to be able to motivate myself to, find time for, and commit to doing my assignments, extra curriculars etc.
What do you hope to do after completing your degrees?
After graduating, I want to take time off and get a job. Then go to grad school and hopefully become a philosophy professor.
Outside of school and career, what hobbies and activities do you enjoy?
Other than schoolwork, I like dressing up and going to conventions. I also look forward to competing in the ethics bowl again this year. And my favorite activity: I play roller derby with the Windy City Rollers.
Anything else you want to share?
I have had a pretty uncommon experience because I am a transgender student and I came out at school as a woman after my second year here. I am really grateful to the [Student] Health and Wellness Center for all their support. And I want to thank all my professors for being accommodating, and to my classmates who have been kind to me. I feel free to be who I am on campus and that has been a huge boon.
