Introduce yourself- Name, undergrad degree/major, area of interest in religious studies.
Hi, I am Alapa Peters Odugbo, a Nigerian and the fourth in a family of eight children (seven boys and one girl). I am an MA student and my concentration is Non-Profit Management.
Why did you choose to pursue an MA in religious studies?
I'm eager to learn more about the impact of religion on human health, aspirations, and life via varied cultural perspectives, and about metaphysical realities and their effects on health. I studied religious studies for my undergraduate degree and obtaining an MA will put me on the right path to becoming a researcher in the field.
What’s something surprising or interesting you’ve learned this semester?
It concerns how practical studying religion is- our class discussions center on a variety of concept-based life situations, but we frequently add to the discussion by putting ourselves in the situation or sharing personal experiences, which makes the text's abstract concepts come to life. Practical learning is incredibly fascinating.
What courses are you enjoying the most, or what topics in your classes have you found the most engaging?
Funny enough, all my classes seem to have a strong connection, especially considering how interactively they are taught and how well my professors manage the class. All three of the classes I took this semester shared my passion for the connections between religion and health. And I love them.
What research projects are you working on this semester?- presentations, publications, thesis, etc.
I have three main research works this semester. The first one analyzes the roles of indigenous cultures in identity formation focusing on pre-colonial Nigerian Igbo society portrayed in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. The presentation was awesome and took 35 mins instead of the ten minutes assigned. Everyone in the class loved it and had something to say and questions to ask. The other two examine, respectively, the roles of culture, religion, and medicine in promoting and sustaining discrimination and unfair treatment against the disabled in Nigeria, and the unattainability of Informed Consent and its effects on standard care.
What are your plans after graduation?
Frankly, I haven't made up my mind about that yet. I found that obtaining an MA in religious studies here at GSU opens a lot of opportunities. And I'm torn between obtaining a medical degree and a Ph.D. in religion and health. However, my ultimate goal is to concentrate on studying and researching the relationship between health and religion and how culture, beliefs, and practices impact health conditions.
What are some of your interests and hobbies outside of religious studies? Any other fun stuff you’d like to share?
Oh, I like talking to new people. I have made several good friends in this short while. I love reading fiction - novels. I like cooking, hiking, and listening to reggae, country music, blues, and African Oghene. I love gyming too. I spend at least 30 minutes in the gym three to four days every week.