HDFS major undergrad spotlight Jayla James

Compassion on and off the court: HDFS major undergrad spotlight Jayla James

By Katie Nicpon

MSU undergraduate Jayla James is a senior in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and a forward on the Women’s Basketball Team. 

“I do enjoy being on the team, and basketball is my passion,” she said. “It was something I didn’t love at first, but I grew to love it and wanted to be a part of it in different ways than just a player.”

Her career goals are to coach basketball and become a licensed social worker. 

“I love how compassionate I am for others and knowing that what I do can always impact another person,” she said.

Along with her major in HDFS, James is minoring in human behavior. 

“My parents both have backgrounds in education so wanted to know more about people in general and helping them,” she said.

So far, her favorite course has been HDFS 444, Interpersonal Relationships in the Family which helps students build their understanding of personal awareness and interpersonal relationships within the family system.

“I like this class because the professor is great at teaching the material and really gets you to understand and apply it to your own life, not just reciting a textbook,” she said. 

James has enjoyed the group work that the HDFS major offers in their courses. Also, being able to apply what she’s learned in her courses to her own life is an important aspect of the HDFS major for James too. HDFS is a great major for students who want to make a difference because it provides broad training that can lead to a wide range of career paths including business, counseling, couple and family therapy, healthcare, human services, policy, and resource management. 

When asked what advice she’d give to students considering her major, James responded that applying what you learn to your own life helps you be able to understand and remember the material better. 

James is from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and transferred to MSU from Penn State. 

“Transferring here has been one of the best decisions I have made for myself  me,” she said. “From the coaches, staff and my teammates, they all have helped me find who I am outside of basketball, and I have created some lifelong relationships.”