Reflection on Gateway to Honors Class - Autumn 2009
_As I began this class one
quarter ago, I was convinced that it would be a complete waste of my
time. What could a once a week class possibly change about my first year
as an honors student? Yet as we delved deeper into topics such as
community engagement, global studies, and the creative arts, I found
myself thinking about how I could further challenge myself.
In the second week of class we wrote our “This I Believe” essay. While what I wrote is definitely my core belief, I never thought about how what I believed drove me to be the person I am. I’ve often felt since coming to UC that it is amazing how much I have explored new opportunities and new people. In my “This I Believe” essay I addressed how starting in Industrial Design was a leap of faith. I chose to do something I enjoyed and thought I’d love. I can honestly say that at the end of this first quarter, with my finished portfolios sitting beside me, that I have loved absolutely every moment of my education and experience at the University of Cincinnati thus far. In the future I hope to continue exemplifying my core belief by always staying true to myself and doing the things I love. Some goals of mine for the future include co-oping abroad in France and exploring the Cincinnati community through volunteerism and community engagement.This class, although short, has made me aware of the vast opportunities available to a student such as myself. I can apply my beliefs, my strengths and my goals to whichever pillar of the UC honors community and I will know I have made the world a better place. As an Industrial Designer, it will be up to me to fashion not only aesthetically pleasing products, but also ones that help the consumer and help the environment. I love the idea that I am allowed the privilege of doing this and I know that being in the honors program here affords me the luxury of great people, connections and support in accomplishing my goals.
Belief in “Love” and surrounding oneself with only the best people will add unending richness to my life in obvious ways, but it also leads me to participation in great groups, clubs and organizations that further my education, career and my general person. I am lucky to count the University Honors Program in that number.
In the second week of class we wrote our “This I Believe” essay. While what I wrote is definitely my core belief, I never thought about how what I believed drove me to be the person I am. I’ve often felt since coming to UC that it is amazing how much I have explored new opportunities and new people. In my “This I Believe” essay I addressed how starting in Industrial Design was a leap of faith. I chose to do something I enjoyed and thought I’d love. I can honestly say that at the end of this first quarter, with my finished portfolios sitting beside me, that I have loved absolutely every moment of my education and experience at the University of Cincinnati thus far. In the future I hope to continue exemplifying my core belief by always staying true to myself and doing the things I love. Some goals of mine for the future include co-oping abroad in France and exploring the Cincinnati community through volunteerism and community engagement.This class, although short, has made me aware of the vast opportunities available to a student such as myself. I can apply my beliefs, my strengths and my goals to whichever pillar of the UC honors community and I will know I have made the world a better place. As an Industrial Designer, it will be up to me to fashion not only aesthetically pleasing products, but also ones that help the consumer and help the environment. I love the idea that I am allowed the privilege of doing this and I know that being in the honors program here affords me the luxury of great people, connections and support in accomplishing my goals.
Belief in “Love” and surrounding oneself with only the best people will add unending richness to my life in obvious ways, but it also leads me to participation in great groups, clubs and organizations that further my education, career and my general person. I am lucky to count the University Honors Program in that number.
Final Reflection on Honors Experience and the past 3 years...
Creating this website has given me a valuable, if not always sought after and previously appreciated, opportunity to really examine who I was 3 years ago. At the heart of it, I'm still the "same" person. But I'm different - I'm older, wiser, busier, more confident and generally more stressed. College is a time for development and just looking at my essay written 3 years ago shows me the changes made in that time.
As can be seen from my introductory page. I no longer believe in love. Well, I do of course, but the word love no longer encompasses the full meaning and context of what I believe. I decided that a more accurate reflection of my belief was the word passion. In some ways, just this change of wording shows the changes I've undergone in the past few years. Passion and love are definitely kindred spirits. It's usually hard to find one without some version of the other. But to me, passion explains the energy and fervency with which I choose to accomplish my goals. In the same way, I have a renewed sense of energy for what I want to accomplish after graduation. It's no longer quite as romantic a hope for the future as it used to be; pragmatism is also a rather new found, yet useful trait I've developed. But it's a worthy and achievable goal.
So what are these future goals? Well, they're variable and definitely not set in stone. I've learned that definitive plans rarely remain definitive.
Instead, they're 'guidelines'. Here they are:
- Get out of the country for at least a year. Teach, volunteer, whatever. Though preferably, I'd like it to be paid. Student loans don't pay themselves! At this time, I am applying to a few different teaching programs in both Asia and South America.
- Return to the USA and secure a big kid job. Vague? Yes. Important? Uh...yes....
- Have this big kid job be in a field that will utilize both my creative, interpersonal, critical thinking and business skills. i.e. I'm not sure where I would like to work - but I want to have a job that challenges me. If that means taking a slightly less well paid job in favor of a job that makes me content, then so be it.
- Travel the USA. See the gorgeous sites that only North America can offer. In this traveling, bike, climb, hike and photograph to my hearts content.
- Eventually, say in 2 years, continue my education. Law school...grad school...not sure yet. Hopefully the job mentioned above will help me decide more confidently, which direction in which I want to head.
So as you can see, these aren't perhaps the most unique or crazy dreams, but they're mine. And I'm going to chase after them with all I have.
It's been a good four years! Here's to another 4!
As can be seen from my introductory page. I no longer believe in love. Well, I do of course, but the word love no longer encompasses the full meaning and context of what I believe. I decided that a more accurate reflection of my belief was the word passion. In some ways, just this change of wording shows the changes I've undergone in the past few years. Passion and love are definitely kindred spirits. It's usually hard to find one without some version of the other. But to me, passion explains the energy and fervency with which I choose to accomplish my goals. In the same way, I have a renewed sense of energy for what I want to accomplish after graduation. It's no longer quite as romantic a hope for the future as it used to be; pragmatism is also a rather new found, yet useful trait I've developed. But it's a worthy and achievable goal.
So what are these future goals? Well, they're variable and definitely not set in stone. I've learned that definitive plans rarely remain definitive.
Instead, they're 'guidelines'. Here they are:
- Get out of the country for at least a year. Teach, volunteer, whatever. Though preferably, I'd like it to be paid. Student loans don't pay themselves! At this time, I am applying to a few different teaching programs in both Asia and South America.
- Return to the USA and secure a big kid job. Vague? Yes. Important? Uh...yes....
- Have this big kid job be in a field that will utilize both my creative, interpersonal, critical thinking and business skills. i.e. I'm not sure where I would like to work - but I want to have a job that challenges me. If that means taking a slightly less well paid job in favor of a job that makes me content, then so be it.
- Travel the USA. See the gorgeous sites that only North America can offer. In this traveling, bike, climb, hike and photograph to my hearts content.
- Eventually, say in 2 years, continue my education. Law school...grad school...not sure yet. Hopefully the job mentioned above will help me decide more confidently, which direction in which I want to head.
So as you can see, these aren't perhaps the most unique or crazy dreams, but they're mine. And I'm going to chase after them with all I have.
It's been a good four years! Here's to another 4!