Before graduation, Dr. Joe Johnston sat down with Anisia Khammala, 2023 Sociology Senior Award winner, to look back at her Gonzaga journey, and look forward to what is next as she moves into the world with her degree in Sociology.
Dr. Joe Johnston
What led you to become a Sociology major in the first place?
Anisia Khammala (’23)
I don't really know. I actually took intro to Sociology when I was in high school at Pierce Community College, I want to say my senior year. While simultaneously taking sociology of race and ethnicity. And it was just so interesting. I don't know. It was super interesting. I really enjoyed all of the readings. I really enjoyed class in general and I think it was the first time I was like, completely invested in my class.
And then also Sociology allowed me to understand experiences that I've had in my life, like with the system. And so that's really interesting and it gave me the vocabulary to explain things. Because I did partake in like activistish type work in high school, but I didn't really understand how to explain the big picture and so, soc really gave me language for that. And that was like, kind of empowering, I guess.
And then I knew that I was super interested in education, specifically education for students that come from low-income backgrounds or students of color or first generation. And I continued to see how soc kind of fit into that. And then I just declared it before I got here, and it never changed.
Joe
Alright, OK. You sort of answered this already, but why did you stick with the major and you stuck with it the whole time, you didn't change. But were there times where you doubted it or considered changing majors?
Anisia
Considering that I came in with my AA and had the credits for it and had like the flexibility because I decided to stay for four years. Sometimes I wonder like. Oh, maybe I should have double majored. Or maybe I should have dipped into, like, a different discipline just to see, because at the end of the day, I was actually really good at like math and science in school. I just don't like it. But sometimes I'm like I don't know if I ever tried either. So sometimes I think about, oh, maybe I could have double majored. Or maybe I could have tried something else. Or maybe I could have tried a business class, but at the end of the day, I'm like, oh, well, it happened.
I picked up a Race and Ethnic studies minor, and that fit really well into Soc as well. And then it also fit extremely well into the type of education work that I'm interested in. And because I had flexibility academically, I was able to dive in more on the student leadership side or the work that I did on campus or the things I participated in on campus.
So, it really evened itself out. So that's nice. But no, I don't think I've ever thought about changing it. Yeah, I've always kind of thought like maybe I could of did something else too.
Joe
It's so hard to stick to the questions I have so many follow up questions. But I’ll try not to. Was there a specific course or courses or experiences or people or assignments or projects that come to mind that you want to remember from your time as a Sociology major and why? Or it's okay if not, if there's nothing specific, but as you think back, are there specific courses or experiences or people or assignments or projects you want to remember? And why?
Anisia
I remember... it's not specific to like Soc or the department, but I remember talking to a friend who is studying Health Science, who decided to take Dr. Bertotti Metoyers class, and they were just so in awe of like the statistics and then understanding why like majority of nurses are female or female doctors will often be seen as the nurse before they're seen as a doctor, like them being able to kind of understand why that is the way it is, was so eye opening for them.
And I think for me it really solidified my choice in what I chose to study, because like sometimes people will be like Sociology... like what do you do with that? And my response is. ‘You can literally do anything because it's applicable in all disciplines. If anything, everyone should kind of have to have a sociological lens when they're taking an approach into their work.
I think civil engineers should understand why they should build freeways through neighborhoods, things like that, or the nursing school like, I hope they're learning about things through sociological lens and the people that they treat or work with. So it's a super applicable everywhere. And that was really solidifying for me.
I guess, a key moment...oh my goodness. My sophomore year was when I took my first class with Doctor Gow. I think that moment for me was just like a pure moment of representation, having a teacher, having a Black female teacher was just really important and really affirming but then also like outside of class, we were able to build a relationship and I think it just shows like how important it is to have our like diverse faculty.
I've been able to see lots of students be like social sciences, specifically Soc and Crim are doing a great job in terms of reflecting students in their faculty where we don't see that everywhere on campus. So I feel very lucky to be able to have this department.
Joe
We feel lucky, so lucky. What are you hoping to do in your post Gonzaga life, and how do you think sociology will connect to those hopes?
Anisia
What a loaded question.
Joe
I know, this is awful!
Anisia
I know I want to work with young people and help them, like understand different resources and opportunities and know that they're able to take advantage of those things if they choose to. How will I do that? I don't really know. One way I know how to do that is through education, through things like college readiness or student affairs or anything along those lines. And that's just because that's the avenue that I chose. But then I also recognize it's not the only Avenue.
So, I think I'll start there. And then maybe things will change. Maybe things won't, I don't know. But at the end of the day, I know my main goal is to just edify young people.
Joe
Last question, is there anything else you would like to share?
Anisia
I think the big thing is like...sometimes I wish people gave social sciences more credit. Because there's always that, like soft science in air quotes versus hard science, like kind of debate that people will have and being like, ‘Oh my gosh, like my class is so hard because I have to do all these exams and calculus is a different language.’
And I'm like, you know what, you're right. Because I don't know how to do that, and I don't want to know how to do that. But can you write a 10 page paper in two hours? Because I've done that. A lot. And I guess it's more of just like, I think something that makes Sociology super unique, is that it literally is applicable everywhere and it doesn't have to be niche. Not to say that, like other people have to be niche. I mean they do, but like, that's not the point.
I just think it's more of like, I want more people to recognize, like how applicable Sociology is to literally anything and then with that understanding, not only do you have the vocabulary and the language to explain things other people, but now you have a better understanding yourself. And I think as obnoxious as I used to think ‘sociological imagination’ was, and still slightly obnoxious cause I don't know how to explain it to somebody. But it makes so much sense, like it makes so much sense. Understanding how the bigger picture affects an individual's choice, life, path that's been premade for them, it explains all those things.
And so, by understanding that you kind of get to see how the whole machine works rather than just your piece. And I don't think enough people recognize that.