Honors Portfolio
I came into UW as someone who had succeeded academically my entire life. I wouldn’t claim that it was always easy, but I certainly took it for granted that the amount of effort needed to succeed was always within reach of what I was capable of and willing to give. My first quarter at UW was the first instance in which I was really challenged in that belief. And in a way that also challenged my identity, because I had come to define myself in part by my ability to succeed in school: school was what I knew I was good at. Struggling through my first quarter at UW—both academically and more subtly with the underlying transition college had introduced into my life—what I ultimately took away was a new view of what my priorities were and a better recognition of the things I cared about: the importance of community, relationships with family and friends, health and self-care, investing in others, and taking time to do the things I loved. |
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The message that "school is important" is pervasive throughout college, and I find myself concerned sometimes that this is said with an overwhelming emphasis on the importance of classes and maintaining a high GPA. I don't doubt that classes themselves are important, but if I’ve learned anything while at college it’s that there’s a lot more to life than school—and that those things are at least equally as important. I think I can say with confidence that I’ve learned at least as much outside my classes as within them, and that which I’ve learned implicitly throughout college is probably the most valuable learning I will take with me into the future. Most important, in some ways, is how the exploration of my own goals and self-awareness and the ways my views of the world have been challenged have guided me towards discovering what I want to do in my life and in the future.
Essentially, the most valuable things that I've learned in college, inside and outside of my classes, are the things I have learned about myself. And Honors is the catalyst that has driven the trajectory of my college experience and my post-grad future, asking me to delve into who I am and what’s important to me and encouraging me to embrace the kinds of challenges that are uncomfortable to me but which I know will help me grow in positive ways. In Honors classes and the program as a whole I've found a sense of community, I've been challenged to consider new perspectives and to contribute my own. But the most meaningful thing that Honors has done for me throughout my college experience has been to expose me to the idea of really adopting a meaningful purpose in my own life.
I've now sat through three introductions to Honors 100, and the last two years as a Peer Educator I've heard incoming students generate a potpourri of important problems going on in the world, and I’ve come to the belief that Honors is really about giving students the tools, seeds of knowledge, and--most importantly--the inspiration to think about these problems in constructive ways and do something to address them. Having the opportunity to be a part of the Honors community and several other communities of engaged student leaders at UW have certainly impacted my time in college and going forward. The learning experiences I’ve had throughout my undergrad, the people I’ve met, and the opportunities I’ve had all have played a role in me feeling I am leaving UW with a better understanding of myself and, although sometimes overwhelming, the knowledge that I want to strive throughout my life to apply my knowledge, skills, and strengths in ways that are meaningful.
Essentially, the most valuable things that I've learned in college, inside and outside of my classes, are the things I have learned about myself. And Honors is the catalyst that has driven the trajectory of my college experience and my post-grad future, asking me to delve into who I am and what’s important to me and encouraging me to embrace the kinds of challenges that are uncomfortable to me but which I know will help me grow in positive ways. In Honors classes and the program as a whole I've found a sense of community, I've been challenged to consider new perspectives and to contribute my own. But the most meaningful thing that Honors has done for me throughout my college experience has been to expose me to the idea of really adopting a meaningful purpose in my own life.
I've now sat through three introductions to Honors 100, and the last two years as a Peer Educator I've heard incoming students generate a potpourri of important problems going on in the world, and I’ve come to the belief that Honors is really about giving students the tools, seeds of knowledge, and--most importantly--the inspiration to think about these problems in constructive ways and do something to address them. Having the opportunity to be a part of the Honors community and several other communities of engaged student leaders at UW have certainly impacted my time in college and going forward. The learning experiences I’ve had throughout my undergrad, the people I’ve met, and the opportunities I’ve had all have played a role in me feeling I am leaving UW with a better understanding of myself and, although sometimes overwhelming, the knowledge that I want to strive throughout my life to apply my knowledge, skills, and strengths in ways that are meaningful.