Combining Passions on Way to Counseling Career

May 7, 2025 by ljudy

At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Jennifer Gary’s preparation for a career in counseling didn’t sideline her passion for the arts. The Franklin, Tennessee, native will graduate this spring with a double major in psychology and cinema studies.

“I’ve had a love for psychology ever since high school and enjoy learning about what makes people who they are. However, I have also always had a passion for performance and acting. These two have battled it out in my mind for years in search of a future career,” Gary explained.

She plans to continue at UT to earn a Master of Science in social work, opening even more career opportunities.

Work Experience

As an undergraduate in the Department of Psychology learning research methods, Gary participated in several studies. One involved watching the livestream from the campus Rock, where painting messages is part of UT tradition. “I would note how many people actually use the landmark as a news source of information,” she said. “I also studied college students’ eating habits.”

Since her junior year, Gary has served as a resident assistant too. “I have had the pleasure to mentor many students as they experience their first year at UT as freshmen or sometimes transfer students,” she said. “I have learned so much from them and grown from being able to be like a big sister to them. This job has instilled a Volunteer spirit and taught me amazing time-management skills, organization, and boundaries to set for myself, so I don’t stretch myself too thin trying to help others.”

Today’s incoming students are having a much different experience than Gary, whose first year in college was affected by the Covid pandemic. “I met many friends without ever seeing their face without a mask on,” she said. “It kind of feels like a fever dream to look back at the whole pandemic, but I wouldn’t change my experience.”

On Stage and in Class

In the spring of Gary’s freshman year, she saw a flyer for the UT All Campus Theatre (ACT), an undergraduate theatre association open to students regardless of major or experience. She auditioned for the first time then, and this spring performed in her sixth Musical Theatre Review with ACT. “I love it so much,” she said.

“I originally added cinema studies as a minor to be an outlet for my creativity, since I have had a passion for film and television,” she said. Then she took Cinema Studies 281 with Assistant Teaching Professor Darcey Morris. “I knew I had to switch it to a second major because of how much I loved the course,” Gary said.

The cinema studies major through the School of Art is an interdisciplinary degree that develops students’ critical thinking as well as creative and technical skills.

“The intro to film class I took with Professor Morris was more of a discussion-based film course, and though I love production classes and getting to make my own films, I deeply enjoy viewing and discussing films.” Gary said. “I can no longer watch a movie the same way because I’m always looking for the intention behind the cinematography, director’s guidance, mise-en-scène, et cetera.”

Becoming a Vol

Her advice to future Volunteers: Follow your heart and make decisions based on what you want, not what others expect from you.

“Experiment with your classes in your freshman year to find what you are truly passionate about. There are some amazing courses you wouldn’t expect to find,” she said. Gary took the university’s first course on Taylor Swift, taught by Morris, which offers a comprehensive view of the singer, from music to marketing and beyond.

Gary also was involved in the larger Knoxville community, helping with fundraisers for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital (ETCH) and Habitat for Humanity.

“Even though a lot of college students can’t donate much to charity, it is so vital to begin this habit in early adulthood,” she said. “We should always do something to help. It can be donating $5 to VOLthon (a UT dance marathon benefitting ETCH) or buying a residence hall T-shirt that goes towards Habitat for Humanity. It is always worth it.”

By Amy Beth Miller