As a Sociology Major, I have taken many interesting and, at times, disturbing classes. My current class, Sociology of Death and Dying, has caused some disturbance in my family, as my mother hates how ‘morbid’ the content is. Personally, I love the class; every day, I face something difficult and am given the tools to help me overcome it. The very first day of class starts with the most crucial fact: we are all going to die.
My Sociology Professor has dedicated a portion of his professional life to discussing and researching the effects of Death on society. His class is heavily discussion-based with participation being a requirement, but don’t worry, his classes are very welcoming and inclusive. That is one of my favorite parts of the class: we are forced to have difficult conversations and to consider our classmates’ perspectives. Death and dying can bring out a lot of strong opinions and emotions; we are taught not to discourage these thoughts, but to embrace them.
We are all going to die, eventually. When that time comes, being prepared not only for what comes next but also knowing your options is critical to making the best decisions for your family. Throughout this class, we are encouraged [at times required] to prepare for the ‘what ifs’ of tomorrow. At 20, I am preparing my will and medical directive. If I were to die, my family will have to document and decisions laid out for them. It can be daunting at times, thinking about and discussing my death, but as someone who has struggled with accepting and discussing death, this class has really changed my life.
Emotions are high in this class. People are typically thinking about and sometimes share very personal, sad stories to connect with the content of this class. It is the class’s emotions that make it so important, because there is a universal feeling in the room. We all may have different opinions, wants, and dreams, but at the end of the day, we all will die. We find connection in our shared mortality, whether we choose to process and prepare the same or not.
It is futile to fear death, as it will occur whether you like it or not. Instead, embrace your fear and use it to educate yourself on what you want your death to look like. I won’t deny that the class is morbid, but I will argue that a bit of morbidity is good at times and keeps us human.
Sociology 408 for my fellow Aggies who are interested in taking the course.