Autumn 2018

Autumn 2018 in 3 words: exciting, exploration, introductions

This fall, I joined Unite UW, which is an organization that aims to form connections between domestic and international students. The photo above was taken at our retreat at Pack Forest, one of the highlights of the program for me. At this retreat, we participated in a round table where every individual in our group shared a story of a time or event that shaped who they are. Hearing others share personal narratives (and doing so myself) allowed me to feel more connected to those in Unite and build many friendships. As someone who has not always enjoyed being vulnerable, receiving positive feedback from others about the account I told helped me recognize that I have far more to gain than to lose from being honest and open. As well, a university of 40,000+ students felt far less intimidating because I was able to weave the beginnings of a mutual support system.

Initially, my Honors class, Leadership and Democracy for a More Thoughtful Public, was very difficult for me, because I had to learn to write and think to very different standards than in high school. Our papers, where we summarized a reading and provided our own thoughts on the author’s argument, were also intimidating to me because many of them involved critiquing our teacher’s writing. I chose this particular paper as an artifact because I believe it served as a turning point for me—I’d gotten adjusted to college-level academic writing and felt more comfortable expressing myself and stating my opinions on my teacher’s writing. Additionally, these papers helped me analyze the multitude of fascinating concepts relating to leadership, and helped me realize that I hope to continue to study this discipline in the future.

Leadership and Democracy Final.pdf

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I signed up for QSCI 381 to challenge my right-brained tendencies and increase my breadth of knowledge in STEM. This study guide, which I created for my first midterm, is an example of how I learned effective strategies to remember and review various statistical concepts. Even though I wasn't entirely satisfied with my grade on the exam, I understood every concept because I took advantage of my resources, such as online review works and office hours. This midterm allowed me to realize that, if I am proactive in my studying, I don't need to be afraid of enrolling in STEM courses. Not limiting myself to one area of study will definitely help me feel as though I'm taking greater advantage of my educational opportunities at UW.