By Kim Singer
Dylan Horner of Mandan graduated from BSC with an Associate in Arts degree, which he said laid the foundation for continuing his education. He decided to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology at Minot State University (MSU) while staying on the BSC campus. Now, he’s starting the master’s program at Cleveland State University in Ohio. Once he has his master’s in psychology with a focus in experimental research, he plans to pursue his Ph.D.
Horner said his professors at both BSC and MSU helped him set his sights high. “With those (BSC) instructors and the Minot instructors, they definitely challenged me and helped me realize my potential.”
Even when Horner was in the MSU program, one of his BSC professors lent him a book over the summer. He recalled times when he stayed after class for up to half an hour, because he was so engaged in conversations with professors. “Years later I still stay in touch and see what they’re up to. It’s great for networking as well when you build those relationships. If you ever need assistance or if you ever have questions, whether it be a job application or an application for school or just a general question, you’re able to come back and talk to those individuals.”
His good relationships with his advisors and professors may be what led Horner to his current career goal – to become one. “The career that I would aspire to have would be to continue researching things that interest me, and then also be an instructor at a college. I enjoy the academic environment. I enjoy teaching other people different skills, different information and
helping them grow as individuals and as students. Being able to take the experiences I’ve had with advisors and peers and being able to facilitate that in classrooms for other people. That would be the ultimate goal for me.”
Psychological research is of interest to Horner, because it allows him to study what motivates people to behave in certain ways. He said by learning what influences people to discriminate
against others or engage in harmful behaviors, he’s able to educate people so they behave differently and interact with others in healthier ways. “Ultimately, I feel that psychological research not only allows us to understand more about ourselves, but grants us the opportunity to make meaningful changes in our day-to-day lives.”