Looking back at my first Honors 100 assignment, many of my goals have remained the same. I still want to be a mechanical or electrical engineer (at least, at the end of my first quarter at UW, I do). I still want to study abroad at some point during my undergraduate years. However, my expectations of myself have definitely changed as I’ve progressed through the quarter. First of all, I don’t expect a grade to reflect everything I took away from a class. Killing myself over my GPA is not an effective use of my time, and is certainly not the focus of my collegiate career. While grades are important, so is maintaining relationships, relaxing, and maintaining my mental health. In addition, a grade on a final or midterm is not the only representation of what I “learned” in a class. For example, Chem 142 (so far this quarter) has not been my strongest subject. However, through this class, I’ve learned the “college process”- going to office hours, meeting with TA’s, setting aside extra hours each week to learn the material, and not simply regurgitate information onto an exam. In addition, I’ve learned how much I enjoy math (it seems the mathematical concepts of chemistry are the only aspects I understand) and how little I enjoy chemistry itself (I will be happy to quit the subject after Chem 152).
One thing that has surprised me this quarter of Honors, is how beneficial it is to be within the program on campus. I believe the main benefit is the incredible, and vital access Honors students have to the Honors advisers. Almost any day of the week, at almost any time of the day, I can ask to meet with an adviser (or go to “Drop-in” hours) and discuss any issues I’m facing and seek advice. The Honors advisers are some of the nicest people I’ve met on this campus, and it’s refreshing to have people on campus who genuinely care about your wellbeing and success. One thing about UW that I did not expect was how quickly and deeply I would create a community and develop relationships with others. I say this because the Honors program emphasizes creating a small community out of the large student body that is the University of Washington, or risk feeling like another “number” to the University. I found my group University of Washington’s Formula Motorsports team (UWFSAE), an engineering group that designs and builds a Formula 1 style racecar every year from the ground up, and competes against other engineering students around the world. I’ve met some amazing people (who blow me away with their intelligence) who are also interested in my major and give me advice on classes and work load and professors. I can not say enough how amazed I am by how much I’ve bonded with this group of people in only a quarter of knowing them.
Through Honors 100, I wish to learn more about study abroad programs available on campus. While we touched on some opportunities on campus in lecture and in our quiz section, there are so many programs out there I have yet to hear about. Coming to the UW, study abroad was the one thing I knew I wanted to get involved in, and I still believe, as I stated in my first Honors 100 assignment, that with proper planning, I can take advantage of this opportunity, even with a course-conscious major such as engineering. Although it will be difficult to find the one program for me, the one that has all I’m searching for in the country I want to go to, I’m committed to researching and perfectly planning an experience I know I will never forget.
By the end of my first year in Honors, I plan to have my first three Honors classes completed (the Honors sections of the Calculus series). I want to also utilize all the honors resources available to me, primarily meeting with the Honors advisers at least once a quarter with any and all questions I have (especially before registration!). However, by the end of my time at UW, I hope to graduate with an Interdisciplinary Honors degree, and a study abroad experience under my belt.
One thing that has surprised me this quarter of Honors, is how beneficial it is to be within the program on campus. I believe the main benefit is the incredible, and vital access Honors students have to the Honors advisers. Almost any day of the week, at almost any time of the day, I can ask to meet with an adviser (or go to “Drop-in” hours) and discuss any issues I’m facing and seek advice. The Honors advisers are some of the nicest people I’ve met on this campus, and it’s refreshing to have people on campus who genuinely care about your wellbeing and success. One thing about UW that I did not expect was how quickly and deeply I would create a community and develop relationships with others. I say this because the Honors program emphasizes creating a small community out of the large student body that is the University of Washington, or risk feeling like another “number” to the University. I found my group University of Washington’s Formula Motorsports team (UWFSAE), an engineering group that designs and builds a Formula 1 style racecar every year from the ground up, and competes against other engineering students around the world. I’ve met some amazing people (who blow me away with their intelligence) who are also interested in my major and give me advice on classes and work load and professors. I can not say enough how amazed I am by how much I’ve bonded with this group of people in only a quarter of knowing them.
Through Honors 100, I wish to learn more about study abroad programs available on campus. While we touched on some opportunities on campus in lecture and in our quiz section, there are so many programs out there I have yet to hear about. Coming to the UW, study abroad was the one thing I knew I wanted to get involved in, and I still believe, as I stated in my first Honors 100 assignment, that with proper planning, I can take advantage of this opportunity, even with a course-conscious major such as engineering. Although it will be difficult to find the one program for me, the one that has all I’m searching for in the country I want to go to, I’m committed to researching and perfectly planning an experience I know I will never forget.
By the end of my first year in Honors, I plan to have my first three Honors classes completed (the Honors sections of the Calculus series). I want to also utilize all the honors resources available to me, primarily meeting with the Honors advisers at least once a quarter with any and all questions I have (especially before registration!). However, by the end of my time at UW, I hope to graduate with an Interdisciplinary Honors degree, and a study abroad experience under my belt.