Entering college I was set on heading down the pre-med track and knew that I needed to take a sociology class to prepare for the MCAT. I also thought that this subject sounded interesting since I like thinking about society, culture especially when it comes to American culture, and how these forces shape us into people. I decided that it might be a nice break from science and math for the spring, so I preceded to enroll. I am currently taking said class and I am happy to say that it has been the most thought-provoking classes that I have taken thus far in college. It has stretched me as a person and challenged some of my preconceptions of individualism. It has shown me a new way to look at the state of the world around me that allows for a more thorough understanding of the history and trajectory complex social issues like globalization and poverty.

So what is sociology anyway? Sociology is defined by the American Sociological Association as "the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior". It takes into account the historical and cultural context in which an individual or group of people is experiencing the world. It looks at the influence of society on our lives and also how we at the same time influence and create society. C. Wright Mills called this the Sociological Imagination, the ability to understand that there is usually a connection between personal troubles and social issues. Take unemployment as an example: if someone is unemployed one could conclude that it has something to do with their ability as an employee, maybe they are lazy or disorganized. The sociological imagination pushes us to look at the problem of unemployment as a greater social issue that is caused by something larger like a recession in the economy.

"The Myth of Individualism" by sociologist Peter L. Callero is a book that we have been reading as our "textbook". It looks to deconstruct the idea of individualism that is so central to American culture, and show how social forces shape who we are and what we do. Each chapter in the book looks to uncover the power that lies in the myth and the pillars that support it. Callero examines the power of symbols, groups, social class, capitalism, mass media, and social movements and their importance in understanding how we and those around us are living out our lives. I recommend this book and taking a sociology class to anyone who wants to learn more about themselves and society.