Harrison Propps, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, has found a unique way to merge his interests in science and philosophy. As a neuroscience and philosophy major, he studies the intricacies of the human mind and brain, a curiosity that extends beyond the classroom to his music.

With his indie rock band Channel Bluff, Propps explores the complexities of human experience through song lyrics—much like the questions of consciousness and personhood he now tackles in his academic work.

He wasn’t always a science enthusiast. In fact, his interest in the subject only started in high school after taking AP Chemistry. While he found the subject intriguing, it was his teacher who made all the difference. Without her influence, Propps admits, his path might have been different.

His connection to philosophy came later, during an ethics class with Justin Weinberg at the University of South Carolina. But this time, Propps connected instantly with the subject matter. That course would ultimately challenge his perspective and inspire him to dive deeper into the world of mind and brain research.

“Suddenly, I was questioning my own beliefs and exploring all these different philosophical viewpoints,” Propps says. “It was eye-opening.”

His philosophical awakening coincided with an increasing fascination in neuroscience, leading him to change his major to neuroscience, with a minor in philosophy. That’s when Propps hit his stride.

He delved into "illusionism," a theory that combines philosophy of mind, psychology and cognitive science. The theory claims that phenomenal consciousness — how we subjectively experience the world — is deceptive.

Propps later connected with philosophy faculty Brett Sherman about research opportunities. Together, they presented a poster on illusionism to the philosophy department, solidifying Propps’ interest in philosophy research.

“We were looking at a really complex concept that took a lot of unpacking,” he explains. “But I loved diving into the literature and trying to understand how this theory tied into questions of ethics and normativity.”

As Propps approaches his senior year, he's learned how to balance his academic workload by breaking down complex material into more manageable pieces and making good use of campus resources.

He’s now excited to explore options for his future and he is increasingly drawn to the idea of pursuing a master’s degree in psychotherapy.

“I value those connections with people, and I think therapy can be so beneficial for everyone,” he says.

Where the uncertainty of his career path once caused him anxiety, he now embraces the unknown and views it as an opportunity for continued curiosity and growth.

“Whatever I end up doing, my time at USC has given me a strong foundation to build on,” he says. “It’s rewarding to see how much I’ve learned and changed as a person, including how to manage my responsibilities. Though I’m not fully there yet, I’m getting closer to being the person I want to be.”